First Solar opens Gaffney SC plant

First Solar (FSLR) has inaugurated the first phase of its new manufacturing facility in Gaffney, Cherokee County, South Carolina, on October 28, 2026. The approximately $330 million facility marks a major expansion of the company’s U.S. manufacturing footprint and focuses on the final production processes for its Series 6 Plus photovoltaic modules. The inauguration event was scheduled for 13:00 US Eastern Time and was to be livestreamed, with company executives, employees and community representatives in attendance.

The Gaffney facility onshores finishing steps for the Series 6 Plus modules, which feature aluminum under-mount frames and dual junction boxes. By situating these final manufacturing stages in South Carolina, First Solar is increasing its domestic production capabilities for its thin-film solar technology while extending its presence into the Southeast.

The first phase of the Gaffney plant adds 3.7 GW of annual finishing capacity for Series 6 Plus modules. With this addition, First Solar’s total U.S. manufacturing capacity reaches 17.7 GW per year. The South Carolina plant joins three fully vertically integrated manufacturing sites in Ohio and additional facilities in Alabama and Louisiana, as well as research and development centers in Ohio and California.

The Gaffney site is dedicated to module finishing rather than full vertical integration, complementing the company’s existing production lines. This configuration allows First Solar to expand total output of its thin-film photovoltaic modules while leveraging its established upstream manufacturing operations elsewhere in the United States.

The South Carolina facility currently employs approximately 500 people. First Solar expects employment at the site to approach 700 once the second phase of the project is completed, which is planned for mid-2027. The phased approach allows the company to ramp up production capacity and workforce incrementally as the plant’s operations expand.

The inauguration of the first phase signals the start of commercial activity at the Gaffney facility while setting the stage for further growth. As additional capacity comes online with the second phase, the site is expected to play a larger role in First Solar’s U.S. manufacturing base for Series 6 Plus modules.

The Gaffney plant is dedicated to finishing First Solar’s Series 6 Plus photovoltaic modules. These modules are based on thin-film cadmium-telluride technology and in this configuration feature aluminum under-mount frames and dual junction boxes. The onshored finishing processes at the South Carolina facility are aimed at preparing the modules for residential, commercial, industrial, and utility-scale solar applications.

By concentrating on the final production steps for Series 6 Plus modules, the facility integrates into a broader product portfolio that includes monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin-film photovoltaic modules, as well as solutions for building-integrated and floating solar applications. The new plant reinforces First Solar’s capability to supply a wide range of solar module products from U.S.-based manufacturing sites.