First Solar Builds $330 Million Factory in South Carolina

First Solar has announced a $330 million investment to build its fifth U.S. solar module factory in Gaffney, South Carolina. The new 1 million sq. ft. facility will produce the company’s Series 7 thin-film modules and is expected to start commercial operations in H2 2026. With this expansion, First Solar will add 600 new jobs and boost its total U.S. production capacity to 17.7 GW, adding 3.7 GW of new output. The project is part of the company’s broader strategy to strengthen U.S. manufacturing, following a separate $1.1 billion investment in new and expanded facilities in Louisiana and Ohio. First Solar’s thin-film technology offers a 30% lower carbon footprint compared to typical crystalline silicon panels manufactured in China—an advantage under evolving U.S. industrial policy. The move aligns with federal incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the sourcing restrictions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which favor domestically produced clean-energy technology.