The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) LPO has granted conditional support for a loan of up to $1.45bn to support Qcells’ first-of-its-kind solar supply chain manufacturing facility in Georgia.  

Once the deal is finalised, the LPO will support Qcells, the largest silicon-based solar panel manufacturer in the west, in the construction of its facility in Cartersville.  

The site will manufacture at a multi-gigawatt scale essential technologies in the solar supply chain such as ingots, wafers, cells and finished panels. 

Qcells said in a press release: “By the end of this year, Qcells will produce the full solar supply chain, from ingot to finished panel, all under one roof in Georgia. We have made such ambitious investments because we believe onshoring solar manufacturing is key to building a sustainable, secure and independent energy future in the US.  

“The ongoing support for our investments, stemming from the Inflation Reduction Act and the efforts of local to federal officials, affirms the importance of this critical industry and the need for a whole of government approach to see domestic solar manufacturing succeed long term.” 

The DOE’s announcement comes after Qcells released data highlighting the economic benefits that its previous investment in solar manufacturing provided to Georgia. 

Between Qcells’ factories in Dalton and Cartersville, the company’s annual solar production capacity is expected to reach 8.4GW by the end of 2024, able to power 1.3m homes.  

Qcells has invested more than $2.5m to boost domestic solar manufacturing and innovation to support the country’s energy transition.   

The LPO is a financing partner for high-impact, large-scale energy infrastructure in the US. 

Qcells is one of the world’s leading clean energy companies, recognised for its established reputation as a manufacturer of high-performance, high-quality solar cells and modules.