Columbia, South Carolina – A major solar manufacturing expansion is headed to Laurens County, where Suniva, Inc. has chosen to open its first facility in South Carolina.
The move brings a $350 million investment and is expected to create 564 new jobs, adding new weight to the state’s growing role in advanced manufacturing and energy production.
For Suniva, the decision marks another step in a longer story that began in 2007.
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The company was founded through U.S. Department of Energy-funded research at Georgia Tech’s University Center for Excellence in Photovoltaics and went on to become one of the country’s largest and oldest merchant solar cell manufacturers.
Over the years, it built its reputation around a clear message: expanding solar cell production in the United States is closely tied to energy independence and domestic energy security.
Now that vision is stretching into South Carolina. Suniva plans to lease a 620,000-square-foot building at 1200 Commerce Blvd. in Laurens, where it will manufacture advanced solar cells.
The new operation will work alongside the company’s existing Georgia plant, strengthening its push for independent clean energy production in the U.S. With the Laurens County site added to the map, Suniva says its annual solar cell production capacity will rise above 5.5 gigawatts, placing it among the largest producers of its kind in the nation.
Company leadership framed the expansion as more than a business move.
“Since its founding in 2007, Suniva has championed U.S. leadership in solar energy manufacturing. Solar is the fastest and most economical way to grow our nation’s energy supply, and at this critical juncture, access to energy will determine how America competes for generations to come. Our expansion in South Carolina means that renewable energy, made right here at home, will now do more than ever to secure that future,” said CEO Tony Etnyre.
State leaders also pointed to the local impact.
“With the addition of 564 jobs in advanced manufacturing and energy, Suniva’s decision to put down roots in the Palmetto State will create new opportunities for our workforce. This investment strengthens our commitment to innovative energy solutions, and we are proud to welcome Suniva to Laurens County,” Gov. Henry McMaster said.
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Operations are expected to come online in 2027.
The Coordinating Council for Economic Development has already approved job development credits tied to the project, while those interested in working at the new facility are being directed to Suniva’s careers page.
For Laurens County, the announcement signals not just a new plant, but a new place in the country’s evolving energy economy.
