ES Foundry Completes 2-GW Expansion at South Carolina Solar Cell Plant
Plant Services reports that ES Foundry has completed a 2-gigawatt expansion at its solar cell manufacturing facility in Greenwood, South Carolina, bringing the plant’s total annual production capacity to 3 gigawatts. The facility produces crystalline bifacial PERC solar cells for utility-scale and distributed-generation projects and has added more than 400 manufacturing jobs in Greenwood County. Company CEO Alex Zhu said the milestone reflects “operating capacity, proven production and domestic suppliers,” while General Manager of Operations Lionel Moss credited Greenwood’s workforce and infrastructure for supporting the buildout.
What It Means for Subcontractors
- Electrical, mechanical, and E&I contractors in the Greenwood, SC area should watch for maintenance, tooling, and facility support subcontracts as the new production line ramps to full output.
- Field service firms serving utility-scale solar developers may see increased demand for domestic-content-compliant panels, which could shift sourcing preferences toward projects using ES Foundry cells for FEOC compliance documentation.
- Local trades and staffing agencies in Greenwood County should note the 400-plus jobs already filled signal an active labor market; contractors bidding on ancillary construction or facility expansion work should engage regional economic development contacts now rather than waiting for formal bid packages.
