Qcells Starts Solar Cell Production in Georgia Factory

According to energy think tank Ember on 10 June 2026, solar overtook coal in US energy production in May for the first time. Solar supplied 12.8% of US electricity in May 2026, while coal fell to 12.2%, its fourth-lowest monthly share.

This could show a shift in clean power generation despite US President Donald Trump's push towards coal as an energy source.

Qcells has started manufacturing solar cells at its Cartersville, Georgia, US factory. The milestone comes as domestic solar manufacturing expands across the country.

Domestic solar cell manufacturing

The Georgia site has begun production of solar cells, which Qcells calls a step toward completing the country's only vertically integrated solar manufacturing plant. Hanwha expects cell production to scale rapidly.

By Q3 2026, Cartersville will manufacture 3.3GW each of ingots, wafers, cells and 3.5GW of modules per year, according to the company. At full production, this would make the site the largest solar cell factory in US history.

Cartersville module assembly is now at full capacity, building 16,700 panels per day.

Andy Park, Global CEO of Qcells, says: "Producing the first solar cells at Cartersville is a milestone for Qcells and for American manufacturing."

Andy adds: "As our ingot, wafer and cell lines reach full capacity, we'll be making the major components of a solar panel right here in Georgia. A dependable domestic supply chain doesn't just create thousands of good-paying jobs, it gives our customers greater certainty on price, supply and tariffs, and a product they can trust from start to finish."

Georgia operations and capacity

Qcells was founded in Germany and is now headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, where its parent company Hanwha is headquartered.

The company began work in Georgia on its facilities in 2019, when its site in Dalton, Georgia, US opened.

Combining the Cartersville factory with the Dalton factory, which tripled module capacity to 5.1GW in late 2023, Qcells estimates its total module capacity in Georgia will reach 8.6GW per year. This equals 47,000 panels per day.

According to Qcells, this is roughly the energy needed to power 1.3m US homes for one year. Together with the expanded Dalton campus, the Georgia operations are expected to employ nearly 4,000 people, an estimated 3,800 direct jobs.

The vertically integrated approach could mean reduced reliance on international supply chains. By producing ingots, wafers, cells and modules domestically, the company manufactures major solar components without importing intermediate materials.

Policy environment for solar

While solar overtook coal generation for the first time in May 2026, the industry faces challenges from federal policy. US President Donald Trump has been critical of solar power, favouring coal and fossil fuels.

The administration has been seeking to dismantle tax credits related to renewable energy. In an Executive Order, President Trump's administration wrote: "For too long, the Federal Government has forced American taxpayers to subsidise expensive and unreliable energy sources like wind and solar."

The order continues: "Moreover, reliance on so-called 'green' subsidies threatens national security by making the United States dependent on supply chains controlled by foreign adversaries."

The policy environment could affect future investment in solar manufacturing.

However, Qcells' domestic manufacturing footprint positions it to capture the full value of the Section 45X Advanced Manufacturing Production Tax Credit across the solar value chain. By producing ingots, wafers, cells and modules domestically, the company can claim credits at each stage of production, something no other US solar manufacturer can currently do.

It does not appear that Qcells has been affected by President Trump's reforms to clean energy incentives. The company's fully integrated manufacturing platform could shield customers from supply chain disruptions and trade uncertainty.

By producing major solar components domestically, Qcells reduces exposure to international supply constraints and tariff volatility. This approach could offer price stability for customers as trade policies fluctuate.

The domestic supply chain could also mean shorter lead times for project developers. Manufacturing all components within Georgia eliminates shipping delays from overseas suppliers.

According to the company, this integration provides customers with certainty on price, supply and tariffs. The approach could represent a model for sustainable domestic solar manufacturing in the US market.