LONGi Plans 5 GW Manufacturing Facility in Ohio, USA

Solar PV maker LONGi has planned to come up with a solar manufacturing facility in the Ohio state of the USA. The firm will collaborate with solar developer and operator Invenergy that will invest more than $600 million in the project. As per LONGi, the project will give a boost to the domestic renewable energy thrust of America.

The construction in the LONGi facility will begin in April this year itself. LONGi will execute the project through its new firm Illuminate USA.

Art Fletcher, EVP, Global Sourcing at Invenergy, said on the LONGi project, “Invenergy is proud of the role Illuminate USA will play in bringing the highest-quality, domestically produced solar products to market, enhancing our nation’s manufacturing capabilities with a long-term investment that will create at least 850 good-paying jobs for Ohioans.”

Invenergy claims to be the anchor customer of Illuminate USA. It will be collaborating further to produce LONGi solar panels. As per reports, the scheme of things will involve a $220 million commitment for the acquisition of a 1.1 million sq feet facility in Pataskala, Ohio.

Ohio is emerging as a manufacturing centre to step up the renewable sector of the USA. It already houses First Solar’s PV production facility of 3-GW and another 3.5 GW is about to come up. The state also has a thin-film module facility of Toledo Solar.

The 5 GW LONGi facility is almost 50 per cent of total installations that took place in the USA from 2022.

LONGi said that the operations of the facility will start by the end of 2023. The manpower hiring will commence this spring only. Dorsey Hager, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Columbus/Central Ohio Building & Construction Trades Council said, “We’re proud that the construction of the Illuminate USA facility will support 150 union jobs, as our affiliates and their members continue to set the standard for construction excellence in Ohio.”

The manufacturing facility will be located 20 miles east of Columbus that is being developed from an existing industrial building. It requires no encroachment on farmlands.

Illuminate USA is also collaborating with JobsOhio and One Columbus to come up with training and skills development programs and support recruitment drives.