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Laurens Today
By the People, for the People
Atlanta-Based Sunniva to Build $350M Solar Cell Plant in South Carolina
New facility will more than double U.S. solar cell manufacturing capacity.
Apr. 15, 2026 at 3:38pm
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Gleaming silicon wafers, the raw material for solar cells, symbolize the strategic importance of domestic solar manufacturing to America's energy future.Laurens TodayAtlanta-based solar company Sunniva announced plans to invest $350 million in a new solar cell manufacturing plant in Laurens County, South Carolina. The facility will have an annual production capacity of 4.5 gigawatts, making it the largest American-owned and operated solar cell maker in the country.
Why it matters
This investment strengthens U.S. energy security and reduces reliance on imported solar components. The new plant will provide a domestic source of solar cells to American panel assemblers, allowing them to qualify for a 10% tax credit under the federal Inflation Reduction Act.
The details
The Sunniva plant will be capable of manufacturing 4.5 gigawatts of solar cells annually, more than doubling the current U.S. solar cell production capacity of 3.2 gigawatts. The facility is expected to employ 564 full-time workers, with production beginning in early 2027. Sunniva and another South Carolina company, ES Foundry, will together possess 2 gigawatts of annual solar cell manufacturing capacity, while Canadian firm Silfab Solar operates a 1-gigawatt plant nearby.
- Sunniva announced the $350 million investment on April 15, 2026.
- The new plant is expected to begin production in early 2027.
The players
Sunniva
An Atlanta-based solar company that is the only major American-owned and operated maker of solar cells.
Tony Etnyre
CEO of Sunniva.
Matt Card
President and COO of Sunniva.
Henry McMaster
Governor of South Carolina.
Harry Lightsey
South Carolina Commerce Secretary.
What they’re saying
“Solar energy is the fastest and most economical way to grow our nation's energy supply. Our expansion means that domestically produced renewable energy will do more than ever to secure America's energy future.”
— Tony Etnyre, CEO, Sunniva
“At this moment in history, the question of where our energy comes from – and who controls the supply chain that delivers it – is among the most consequential questions America faces. Suniva's answer is straightforward: we build it here.”
— Matt Card, President and COO, Sunniva
“This investment strengthens our commitment to innovative energy solutions, and we are proud to welcome Sunniva to Laurens County.”
— Henry McMaster, Governor of South Carolina
“Sunniva's decision to build this plant in Laurens County is a significant win for rural economic development.”
— Harry Lightsey, South Carolina Commerce Secretary
What’s next
Sunniva expects the new solar cell manufacturing plant to begin production in early 2027.
The takeaway
This investment in a major American-owned solar cell factory strengthens the U.S. renewable energy supply chain and reduces reliance on imported components, bolstering energy security and supporting the growth of domestic solar power.
