T1 Energy has begun construction on its G2_Austin solar cell fab, a high-tech factory manufacturing PV cells, representing an anticipated $400 to $425 million investment in advanced domestic manufacturing.
The project is expected to expand the U.S. solar supply chain significantly. In its first phase, the fab will have an annual capacity of 2.1 gigawatts (GW) of high-efficiency TOPcon solar cells, which is greater than the entire existing U.S. capacity for silicon-based solar cell manufacturing. Production is expected to begin by the end of next year.
The cells manufactured at the plant will be used to produce solar modules at the company’s 5GW G1_Dallas facility. The company expects to meet the increased demand for domestically produced solar cells and serve as the final major link in the growing domestic solar supply chain.
Located in Milam County, Texas, G2_Austin will open up to 1,800 new advanced manufacturing jobs.
“G2_Austin is a centerpiece of our strategy to build an integrated U.S. polysilicon solar supply chain,” said T1’s Chairman and CEO Dan Barcelo, in a statement. “Solar is the most scalable, reliable, and low-cost energy available today, and I look forward to the future of American solar running through Rockdale, Texas.”
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