Suniva, Inc., the largest U.S. manufacturer of high-efficiency monocrystalline silicon solar cells today announced the upgrade, expansion and restart of operations of its solar cell manufacturing facility in Norcross, Georgia. The first phase of expansion will create up to 240 full-time jobs and increase Suniva’s manufacturing capacity to 1GW, with production expected to begin by Spring of 2024. A second phase of expansion will further increase annual production capacity up to 2.5GW.

Earlier in 2023, Suniva secured a $110 million financing commitment from Orion Infrastructure Capital (OIC) to fund its expansion and signed a multi-year supply agreement of UFLPA-compliant wafers. New, state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment will enable Suniva to supply its customers high-efficiency American-made solar cells suitable for ground-mounted and rooftop applications.

“Since 2007, Suniva has been a leader in solar cell technology development and manufacturing. The Inflation Reduction Act and its Domestic Content provisions, as issued, provide a strong foundation for continued solar cell technology development and manufacturing in the United States,” said Cristiano Amoruso, Chief Executive Officer and Suniva Board member. “We look forward to engaging with our customers to satisfy their demand for a reliable source of U.S. made cells.”

“The solar cell is the essential component in solar energy generation. Today’s announcement is the first step in rebuilding solar cell manufacturing in the United States, which will bolster our country’s energy independence and security,” said Matt Card, President and Chief Operating Officer of Suniva. “This next chapter in Suniva’s story builds upon those successes while contributing to the goal of a robust, self-sufficient solar supply chain for our country.”

Ethan Shoemaker, Investment Partner and Head of Infra Credit at OIC, added, “We are excited to partner with Suniva, a pioneer in the domestic solar industry. On behalf of the team, I would like to thank Suniva for choosing to partner with OIC.”