Translucent Solar starts solar panel assembly in South Carolina

A new solar panel factory has started production in Summerville, South Carolina. The company, Translucent Solar, expects to reach a manufacturing capacity of 1.2 gigawatts a year by the end of 2026. The 281,000-square-foot plant is the first phase of a $15.6 million investment and will support 167 jobs. The company says it plans to make panels for homes as well as businesses and utilities.

For homeowners, more domestic panel manufacturing can mean more supply and, over time, more choice in where solar panels are made. Translucent's managing director said Summerville is just the first step, with plans to eventually add cell and wafer manufacturing in the U.S. as well — the raw materials that go into finished panels, most of which are currently made overseas.

This isn't the company's first attempt to build panels in the U.S. Translucent first announced a partnership with Philadelphia Solar back in 2022 to manufacture panels domestically, but those plans never came together. Several of Translucent's executives, including its managing directors and chief technology officer, previously worked with Desert Technologies, a Saudi energy and panel manufacturer.

There's no rebate, program, or direct action tied to this news for homeowners right now. It's a sign of where U.S. solar manufacturing is headed, which could eventually affect the price and availability of panels installed on homes.