Yet Another Massive New Solar Factory Rises In North Carolina

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Welcome to another edition of US Presidents Come and Go. While the domestic solar industry is operating under a thick pall of gloom this year, plans are already in the works for a full speed revival leading up to January 20, 2029, when the current occupant of the White House is scheduled to leave the premises — peacefully one hopes, this time. The latest indication of the forthcoming PV renaissance is a new solar factory under construction in North Carolina, on track to commence operations in 2026.

A New Solar Factory For North Carolina

Considering the topsey-turvey state of US foreign relations these days, it’s worth noting that the new solar factory comes under the umbrella of the leading global firm Boviet Solar, which is headquartered in Bac Giang City in the northeastern part of Vietnam.

Much water has passed under the bridge since the last US combat troops exited Vietnam, back in 1973. “U.S.-Vietnam relations have become increasingly cooperative and comprehensive, evolving into a flourishing partnership that spans political, economic, security, and people-to-people ties,” the US Department of State noted, following the launch of the 2023 U.S.-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The CSP is described as “an overarching framework for advancing the bilateral relationship, and built on preceding Joint Statements issued over the last ten years by the two countries’ leaders in 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2017,” the State Department added.

Only time will tell if the Trump administration honors both the spirit and the letter of the CSP. As of earlier this summer, at least, the spirit was still in play. On June 20, the US Mission to Vietnam launched a new “30 Years of U.S. – Vietnam Relations” campaign, aimed at reaffirming and expanding ties between the two nations.

“Over the past 30 years, the U.S.-Vietnam relationship has grown into a powerful partnership to advance our shared economic and security goals,” the Mission explained.

Shared Economic And Security Goals

Speaking of shared economic and security goals, the new solar factory is an excellent demonstration of those things.

The economic benefits to the US are straightfroward. In addition to creating new jobs within its walls, a new factory can act as an anchor institution that stirs activity throughout a community and beyond. In particular, a new solar factory has a knock-on effect that ripples into other features of the domestic solar industry, including new jobs related to academic research and technical training as well as hands-on construction and installation employment.

Back in January, for example, Boviet cut the ribbon on its first solar factory in North Carolina. Located in Greenville, the sprawling 2-gigawatt solar module factory brought 900 new jobs to the state. Among those marking the occasion was North Carolina Governor Josh Stein, who emphasized the big-picture role of the new factory.

“As our state grows, so do our energy needs. I look forward to partnering with Boviet Solar to strengthen our workforce and build stronger clean tech infrastructure in North Carolina,” Stein said.

“With nearly 110,000 people working in our clean energy sector, North Carolina ranks ninth in the nation for clean energy jobs,” added the state’s Commerce Secretary, Lee Lilley. “Boviet is a powerful addition to our supply chain that includes a roster of 220 solar companies that are helping to provide more low-carbon energy sources.”

Connecting The Solar Factory Dots

Boviet’s second solar factory in North Carolina completes the domestic supply chain picture. Also located in Greenville, the new facility will supply made-in-the-US solar cells to the first factory, which commenced operations in April.

“Together, these two facilities will create a fully integrated U.S. manufacturing hub, capable of producing both PV cells and modules domestically, strengthening America’s solar supply chain while providing customers with top-performing, Made-in-USA solar products,” Boviet explained in a press statement. The company also noted that the second factory was initially planned as a 2-gigawatt facility. Instead, it will reach up to 3 gigawatts.

The second factory is on schedule for completion midway through next year, now that the exterior walls and roof have been completed.

“With Phase I already producing U.S.-made PV modules and Phase II moving forward as planned, we are building not just factories, but long-term opportunities for the local community, our employees, and the clean energy future of the United States,” said Marco Marquez, who serves as General Manager of Boviet Solar’s Greenville factory.

But Wait, There’s More?

Although the US solar industry is clearly facing headwinds today, Boviet is among the stakeholders anticipating that the setbacks are temporary. The company has dropped a strong hint that its North Carolina solar factory operations are just for starters.

“The Greenville manufacturing hub is central to Boviet Solar’s U.S. growth strategy,” said Boviet Solar USA President Sienna Cen.

The wheels are already in motion. Back in 2022, Boviet entered into an agreement with the US solar developer Vesper Energy, involving the supply of Boviet solar modules for Vesper projects in Ohio and Texas. Totaling 680 megawatts (AC), the Texas and Ohio projects are just part of Vesper’s 16-gigawatt solar energy and storage plans.

Speaking of Texas, if North Carolina wants to lay claim to the #1 go-to destination for a new solar factory, it will have plenty of competition from Texas. The solar manufacturing firm T1 (formerly Freyer Battery) and Mission Solar are among those moving forward with plans this year.

Then there’s Tennessee, where Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins recently held a press conference in which she excoriated the use of imported solar panels, by way of announcing that her agency will no longer support solar loans for farmers.

Not to worry, Brooke. Tennessee will do its part to ensure that farmers in search of clean power will have an ample supply of made-in-the-US solar panels on hand. The state has a secret weapon in hand, in the form of a grid-connected industrial site once intended for a nuclear power plant. The nuclear plan slid into the dustbin of history years ago, and now Tennessee is courting solar tenants, among others. First up is the US firm Highland Materials, which has hatched a plan to set up a $1 billion polysilicon manufacturing facility at the site.

Photo (cropped): Another new solar factory is rising in North Carolina as the US solar industry continues to plan ahead for long term growth despite the abrupt shift in federal energy policy (courtesy of Boviet).