The expansion is part of a wave of new solar cell manufacturing capacity in the U.S., expected to reach 20.5 GW by the end of 2027.
U.S. solar cell manufacturer ES Foundry has completed the 2 GW expansion of their Greenwood, South Carolina facility, bringing the total annual production capacity to 3 GW. The company has also announced the production of the first solar cell using the new production line.
The company opened the Greenwood facility in January, 2025, and reached full 1 GW operational capacity by the end of the year. In December, the company estimated its 2 GW expansion would be ready by July. It has now delivered on that estimate.
“This milestone is about execution,” said ES Foundry CEO Alex Zhu in a statement celebrating the expansion. “The U.S. solar market does not need more announcements — it needs operating capacity, proven production and domestic suppliers that can support customers now. With our 2 GW expansion complete, our total capacity now at 3 GW and the first cell off the new line, ES Foundry is helping close one of the most critical gaps in the U.S. solar supply chain.”
The Greenwood facility produces crystalline silicon bifacial cells using passivated emitter and rear contact (PERC) technology. While not the latest or highest-efficiency technology, the company argues that PERC offers proven reliability, and isn’t subject to the kinds of intellectual property disputes currently affecting suppliers of tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) cells.
