South Korea’s Qcells has begun manufacturing solar cells at its facility in Cartersville, Georgia, a significant milestone for domestic solar production in the US.
The Cartersville plant is set to become the country’s first and only vertically integrated solar factory, manufacturing all major components of a photovoltaic module, from ingots and wafers to cells and finished panels, under one roof.
The company expects the site to be fully operational by the third quarter of 2026 (Q3 2026). It plans to achieve an annual production capacity of 3.3GW each for ingots, wafers and cells, and 3.5GW for modules.
Module assembly at Cartersville has already reached full capacity, producing approximately 16,700 panels daily.
In combination with Qcells’s Dalton factory, which increased its capacity to 5.1GW of solar modules per year in late 2023, Qcells’ total production across Georgia is projected to reach 8.6GW annually, or approximately 47,000 panels per day.
According to the company, this level of output could generate enough energy to supply roughly 1.3 million US homes for a year.
Qcells global CEO Andy Park said: “Producing the first solar cells at Cartersville is a milestone for Qcells and for American manufacturing. As our ingot, wafer and cell lines reach full capacity, we will be making the major components of a solar panel right here in Georgia.
“A dependable domestic supply chain doesn’t just create thousands of good-paying jobs, it gives our customers greater certainty on price, supply and tariffs, and a product they can trust from start to finish.”
Qcells also stated that, together, the Cartersville and Dalton sites are expected to employ nearly 4,000 people across Bartow and Whitfield counties, equating to around 3,800 direct jobs.
Modules manufactured at the Cartersville facility are expected to enable project developers and asset owners to qualify for the 10% Domestic Content Bonus provided by the Investment Tax Credit, as key components are produced within the US.
Qcells stated that having a domestic supply chain offers customers greater assurance regarding pricing, sourcing and delivery, and may help reduce the risks associated with international supply chain disruptions and changes in trade policies.
Because it manufactures ingots, wafers, cells and modules domestically, the company can claim credits under the Section 45X Advanced Manufacturing Production Tax Credit at each stage of the production process.
Qcells says its Cartersville factory, home to what will be the nation’s largest ingot and wafer plant, is also the first facility of its kind to be built in the US in more than a decade.
