In a pivotal move to bolster clean energy production and create hundreds of jobs, Qcells, a leading clean energy solutions provider, has successfully completed a substantial expansion of its factory in Dalton, Georgia. The expansion, encompassing a staggering 2 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity, propels the total factory output to an impressive 5.1 GW.
This expansion, a first since the enactment of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), symbolizes the initial phase of Qcells’ ambitious $2.5 billion investment announced in January 2023. The company’s historic commitment to solar energy has been further underscored by the creation of 510 additional solar factory jobs in Dalton.
Qcells said two groundbreaking solar products will be assembled at the Dalton factory as a result of this expansion — the Q.TRON G2 residential solar panel and a bifacial panel catering to the commercial and utility markets. With the new capacity, the Dalton factory is projected to manufacture nearly 30,000 solar panels daily.
Moreover, Qcells’ investment extends beyond Dalton with the development of an integrated solar supply chain factory in Cartersville, Georgia. The Cartersville facility is set to manufacture solar ingots, wafers, cells, and finished panels. By 2024, the combined production capacity of both Dalton and Cartersville facilities is expected to reach an impressive 8.4 GW annually, sufficient to power approximately 1.3 million homes annually with clean energy.
Justin Lee, CEO of Qcells, commented on this significant achievement, stating, “Completing this factory marks the third expansion we’ve made in Dalton, and it’s just the beginning of Qcells’ larger mission to build a fully integrated solar supply chain in America.”
U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff expressed his appreciation for Qcells’ ongoing commitment to sustainable energy production, saying, “When I wrote and passed the Solar Energy Manufacturing for America Act, it was with this exact goal in mind. I thank Qcells for their continued investment in Georgia.”
Qcells initially established its first factory in Georgia in 2019, employing 750 people to manufacture 1.7 GW of solar. The initial investment was facilitated, in part, by the Section 201 tariffs imposed on solar cells. Last year, Qcells announced plans to add 1.4 GW to its manufacturing output, bringing in an additional 535 employees.
The introduction of Q.TRON G2 and the new bifacial panels signifies Qcells’ commitment to innovating and scaling up reliable, cost-effective solar products. Ultimately, these efforts are aimed at accelerating the United States’ transition to renewable energy.
In terms of environmental impact, Qcells’ production in Georgia has the potential to mitigate over 12 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents annually, demonstrating the vital role of domestic manufacturing in supporting a sustainable future and advancing the Made-in-America clean energy agenda.