T1 Starts Construction at Texas Solar Cell Plant

U.S. solar manufacturer T1 Energy on Wednesday announced it had started construction on its solar cell fabrication plant in Austin, Texas.

The 2.1 GW first phase of the cell plant, called “G2_Austin,” will begin producing cells by the end of 2026. The second phase of G2 will add 3.2 GW of capacity, which “could be expanded if demand for cells increases,” according to a press release.

TOPCon cells made at G2 will be used at T1’s 5 GW module assembly plant in Dallas, which started operations in the fall of 2024.

In November, T1 said it was splitting its cell plant plans into two phases, with the potential to add a third, in order “to match planned capacity with long-term offtake contracts, advance capital formation initiatives, and start production in Q4 2026 to address robust customer demand.”

Wednesday’s announcement kicks off an “anticipated $400 to $425 million investment” in T1’s supply chain.

“G2_Austin is a centerpiece of our strategy to build an integrated U.S. polysilicon solar supply chain,” T1 Chairman and CEO Dan Barcelo said in a statement. “Solar is the most scalable, reliable, and low-cost energy available today, and I look forward to the future of American solar running through Rockdale, Texas.”

In October, T1 made an investment in Texas-based cell manufacturer Talon PV and signed an agreement with Nextpower for steel frames. And in August, the firm expanded its supply agreement with Corning Materials and its subsidiary Hemlock Semiconductor for domestically produced polysilicon and wafers.

In Wednesday’s release, T1 said it “anticipates the solar cell fab will be the final major link in a domestic solar supply chain.”

Reporting by Colt Shaw, cshaw@opisnet.com; Editing by Jordan Godwin, jgodwin@opisnet.com