Global solar module player primarily manufacturing in China, Canadian Solar announced today it will start a 5-GW solar panel assembly facility in Mesquite, Texas, just east of Dallas. This U.S. factory will join Canadian Solar’s manufacturing portfolio in Canada, China, Brazil, Thailand and Vietnam.
Fellow Chinese solar panel powerhouse LONGi also has plans for a 5-GW solar panel factory in Ohio. The Canadian Solar and LONGi plants will be the largest crystalline silicon solar panel factories in the United States.
Canadian Solar will invest $250 million into the Texas factory, creating approximately 1,500 jobs. Production is expected to begin by the end of this year.
“Establishing this factory is a key milestone that will enable us to better serve our U.S. customers with the most advanced technology in the industry,” said Dr. Shawn Qu, founder and CEO of Canadian Solar. “We hope that this is the first of many long-term investments we expect to make in the U.S. as we think strategically about a sustainable and resilient clean energy supply chain.”
Canadian Solar is a leader in TOPCon solar technology, and the company expects advanced modules using TOPCon technology to account for 30% of its 2023 total module shipments. The Texas factory will manufacture TOPCon modules, likely for the commercial and utility-scale markets.
