First Solar has officially inaugurated its new $1.1 billion fully integrated, AI-powered manufacturing facility in Iberia Parish, Louisiana, marking one of the most technologically advanced solar factories in the world and a significant milestone for U.S. clean-energy manufacturing.
The new facility comes just days after the company announced plans to invest an additional $330 million in a new plant in Gaffney, South Carolina. Together, these projects reinforce First Solar’s accelerated expansion across the United States as demand for domestically produced photovoltaic (PV) technology continues to surge.
A Super-Scale, AI-Powered Complex
Spanning approximately 2.4 million square feet, nearly 11 times the size of the New Orleans Superdome, the Louisiana plant is built to drive efficiency, precision, and consistency through artificial intelligence. The facility began production in July 2025 and currently employs more than 700 workers, with expectations to reach around 800 by year’s end.
AI plays a central role in operations: 
- Automated defect detection ensures continuous quality improvement.
- AI-assisted tools help technicians make real-time adjustments and better operational decisions.
- Integrated smart systems streamline energy use and production workflows.
“This is, beyond doubt, one of the most advanced solar manufacturing facilities in the world, and it represents the very best of American manufacturing innovation,” said Kuntal Kumar Verma, First Solar’s chief manufacturing officer. “AI can help American factory workers reach their full potential, running operations smarter, better, and faster.”
Expanding U.S. Solar Manufacturing Capacity
The Louisiana plant produces First Solar’s next-generation Series 7 thin-film modules using primarily American-sourced materials, including glass manufactured in Illinois and Ohio.
Once fully ramped, the site is expected to contribute 3.5 gigawatts (GW) of annual nameplate capacity. This will raise First Solar’s total U.S. manufacturing footprint to:
- 14 GW in 2026
- 17.7 GW in 2027, once the new Gaffney, SC, facility is fully operational
The Gaffney plant will focus on final production phases for the company’s Series 6 modules.
Major Economic Impact for Iberia Parish
An economic analysis by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, commissioned by the Iberia Economic Development Authority, estimates that the new plant will boost the parish’s GDP by 4.4% in its first full year of full-capacity operations.
In addition to economic growth, the facility offers highly competitive compensation packages, with manufacturing roles averaging around $90,000 per year, more than triple the local per-capita income.
By the end of 2026, First Solar expects to employ more than 5,500 people across its U.S. operations and will have invested approximately $4.5 billion in American manufacturing and R&D infrastructure since 2019.
Source: businesswire.com with additional information added by Glass Balkan
