Maxeon Solar Technologies has chosen Albuquerque, New Mexico, as the site for its inaugural manufacturing plant in the United States. This upcoming 3 GW facility will produce TOPCon silicon cells and Maxeon’s exclusive shingled-cell Performance Line solar modules, with a projected investment exceeding $1 billion.

The Maxeon facility is anticipated to mark the debut of significant PV cell and panel manufacturing in New Mexico, catering to both utility-scale and distributed generation rooftop uses. With a capacity of 3 GW, this plant is remarkable, being roughly twice the size of the largest silicon solar manufacturing facility presently active in the United States.

“Thanks to the backing of the Biden administration, the United States is now positioned to bring back and expand a domestic solar supply chain. This move will bolster national energy security and generate a fresh set of high-paying manufacturing positions,” stated Bill Mulligan, CEO of Maxeon.

Present situation | Maxeon is presently in the due diligence phase of its loan application, and the selection of a site is a crucial step towards finalizing this process with the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office. The Department of Energy’s involvement in the due diligence and term sheet negotiation process does not guarantee the issuance of a loan guarantee, nor does it ensure that the terms and conditions of a loan guarantee will match those proposed by the applicant.

Maxeon anticipates starting construction in the initial quarter of 2024, with factory ramp-up set to begin in 2025. The company has chosen a 160-acre plot in the Mesa Del Sol community for the site and is planning the layout to encompass solar cell manufacturing, panel assembly, a warehouse, and administrative offices.

“I am pleased to announce the arrival of Maxeon Solar Technologies’ inaugural manufacturing facility in the United States to New Mexico,” stated Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. “This private investment exemplifies how our state initiatives, combined with President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, have paved the way for New Mexico to emerge as a frontrunner in fostering the clean energy sector and establishing a robust workforce for the future.”