‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member, Hanwha Q CELLS, has completed its 1.7GW module assembly facility in Dalton, Georgia – the second major module production facility opened in America this week by foreign firms.
Company subsidiary Hanwha Q CELLS USA facilitated the project, which is said to be the largest of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. The factory started producing Q.PEAK DUO L-G5 modules on 1 February and the first deliveries have already been carried out.
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Hanwha Group now has manufacturing facilities in the US, South Korea, Malaysia and China.
Hanwha Q CELLS & Advanced Materials Corporation CEO Hee Cheul Kim, said: “This announcement signifies our dedication to the US market and the fulfilment of our promise to provide high-quality solar modules assembled in America, while leaving a positive impact on the economy of Georgia.”
Earlier this week, SMSL leader JinkoSolar also officially opened its first 400MW module assembly plant in Jacksonville, Florida, with pilot production having started in November 2018.
Employment in the US solar sector declined by 8,000 in 2018, or around 3.2%, according to the latest Solar Jobs Census. While the census recorded a fall in PV manufacturing jobs of 8.6% from 2017 to 2018, it did, however, forecast an increase for 2019 taking 2018’s tally of 33,726 to 34,949. Further module jobs are still be created in the US since the introduction of President Trump’s duties on most imported cells and modules, including a 500MW fab from LG Electronics.
