up and running

Houston solar modules manufacturer opens new $60M facility

In addition to the ribbon cutting for the new facility, SEG Solar rolled out its first 585-watt YUKON N series module during the opening on August 9. Photo courtesy of SEG Solar

A Houston-based photovoltaic manufacturer has celebrated the opening of its new manufacturing base in Houston.

SEG Solar's new facility spans 250,000 square feet and will house production workshops, raw material warehouses, administrative offices, finished goods warehouses, and supporting infrastructure. It features two intelligent manufacturing lines that will produce the latest N-type high-efficiency PV modules, which is expected to have production capacity exceeding 2 gigawatts annually. The project cost $60 million.

“The Houston plant is a key part of SEG’s strategy to serve the U.S. market,” Jim Wood, CEO of SEG, says in a news release. “With new workshops, production lines, and equipment, SEG will offer a refreshed experience to the U.S. market.”

In addition to the ribbon cutting for the new facility, SEG Solar rolled out its first 585-watt YUKON N series module during the opening on August 9, which helps establish SEG as one of the first manufacturers to achieve module production in the United States.

The production lines will be compatible with 182mm and 210mm N-type cells and will be fully equipped with automated intelligent manufacturing systems, which can ensure seamless integration of automation, information and intelligence. The technological collaboration assists with manufacturing efficiency. The workshop will feature advanced ERP and MES systems for refined management and traceability of incoming materials.

SEG has shipped over 5 gigawatts of solar modules worldwide. The company says it expects to exceed a production capacity of 5.5 gigawatts by the end of 2024. According to SEG, customers will benefit from faster delivery times and enhanced after-sales service after the opening of the Houston plant. Houston’s key location will help reduce transportation costs, according to the company. Expanding out of Houston and the U.S. market, SEG plans to establish Southeast Asia's largest photovoltaic industrial park in Indonesia in 2025.

SEG hopes to establish its global R&D center at the Houston PV manufacturing base before the end of 2024 that will offer testing services, like LID tests, Damp Heat tests, PID tests, and Light and LeTID tests.

“As a leading U.S. solar company, SEG is proud to be among the first to respond to the call for domestic manufacturing by constructing a solar module factory in the U.S.,” Wood says in his keynote speech at the opening ceremony. “The completion of the Houston plant marks a significant milestone for SEG and a major advancement in U.S. module manufacturing technology.

"Looking ahead, SEG will continue to deepen its investments in wafers, cells, and modules, closely tracking market trends to meet our customers' needs," he continues. "Through strategic collaborations across the supply chain, we aim to continuously optimize and enhance the U.S. PV manufacturing industry.”

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A View From HETI

PV Hardware USA has opened a new 95,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Houston. Photo via pvhardware.com.

PV Hardware USA, a provider of solar tracking and foundation solutions, has announced the opening of its second U.S. manufacturing facility in Houston, which is expected to create more than 100 jobs locally and strengthen domestic production capacity for solar energy facilities.

“Opening our second U.S. manufacturing facility represents an exciting step forward in our growth journey and demonstrates our commitment to the U.S. market,” Rodolfo Bitar, VP of Business Development for PVH USA, said in a news release.

The 95,000-square-foot facility began operations in July and aims to increase production while reducing lead times for customers. The new state-of-the-art building joins the company’s first $30 million U.S. manufacturing facility, which opened in Houston in May 2024 as one of America’s largest solar tracker manufacturing facilities.

Established in 2008 in San Francisco, PVH USA has launched a series of innovative advancements that help solar facilities withstand extreme weather events, generate more energy during overcast weather and expand the types of terrain suitable for solar installations. Its proprietary pre-assembly process can reduce installation times by 40 percent, which helps expand solar power capacity to meet increasing demand for electricity, according to the company. Currently, PVH USA has over 32 gigawatts of solar trackers supplied worldwide, and it operates from advanced manufacturing facilities in Spain, Saudi Arabia and the United States.

Its existing Houston facility manufactures solar structures and custom-built solar tracking systems for new solar generation projects.

“By expanding our presence in Houston, we are not only investing in local economic development but also ensuring we can better serve our customers with faster turnaround times and the highest quality products that are 100% domestically made,” Bitar added in the release.

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