{"id":440090,"date":"2026-05-09T09:15:07","date_gmt":"2026-05-09T09:15:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/440090\/"},"modified":"2026-05-09T09:15:07","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T09:15:07","slug":"new-factory-adds-4-gw","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/440090\/","title":{"rendered":"New Factory Adds 4 GW"},"content":{"rendered":"

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US President Donald Trump\u2019s crusade against wind turbines continues, but his efforts to stop solar power have fallen flat. A case in point is the US manufacturer SEG Solar. Despite the sharp U-turn in federal energy policy, SEG has just announced the addition of a new 4-gigawatt solar module factory to its US portfolio.<\/p>\n

More Solar Power For The USA<\/p>\n

As for who\u2019s going to put all those new solar modules to work, that\u2019s a good question. In addition to orders from the White House aimed at throttling down the domestic solar industry, some states and local governments have established, or are considering, new restrictions<\/a>\u00a0on wind and\/or solar development.<\/p>\n

However, there are ample opportunities in other states where renewable energy is supported. Blue states like California, Illinois, and New York come to mind, but the appeal is bipartisan, with Florida and Texas vying against California for the #1 slot in installed solar capacity in a state-by-state ranking.<\/p>\n

Texas is a particularly interesting case because capacity additions are just part of the state\u2019s solar power picture. Solar manufacturers<\/a> have also been rushing into Texas, despite the anti-renewables efforts<\/a> undertaken by Republican lawmakers in the state.<\/p>\n

SEG Solar Adds 4 More Gigawatts<\/p>\n

SEG surfaced on the CleanTechnica radar in 2024, when it announced the opening of a new $60 million, 2-gigawatt factory in Houston, earmarked for fabricating the company\u2019s Yukon N-type solar modules<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the opening of the Houston plant, customers will benefit from faster delivery times and enhanced after-sales service, while the convenient location will significantly reduce transportation costs, boosting SEG\u2019s competitiveness and maintaining its industry-leading position,\u201d the company explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cSEG will continue to deepen its investments in wafers, cells, and modules, closely tracking market trends to meet our customers\u2019 needs,\u201d the company added, indicating a sunny future for solar power in the US.<\/p>\n

Things certainly did seem sunny just a year and five months ago, when former US President Joe Biden was still in office with robust support for both wind and solar. The environment abruptly shifted on January 20, 2025 when President Donald Trump swept back into office.<\/p>\n

Still, the sun will keep shining long after President Trump leaves office as scheduled on January 20, 2029 \u2014 peacefully one hopes, this time \u2014 and domestic solar manufacturers like SEG are planning for the long haul.<\/p>\n

In the latest news from SEG, on May 7 the company announced that it will construct a new 4-gigawatt factory in Houston. \u201cBuilding on the success of its first 2 GW solar module factory, this expansion will increase SEG\u2019s total annual U.S. module production capacity to approximately 6 GW,\u201d SEG notes, adding that it expects the new solar module facility<\/a> to be up and running sometime in Q3 of this year, which is just around the corner.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe domestically-produced modules will provide greater product quality, traceability and delivery speed to increase value for partners and customers,\u201d SEG adds.<\/p>\n

Made-In-The-USA Solar Modules<\/p>\n

If that thing about delivery speed indicates that SEG is in a hurry, it is. The domestic solar manufacturing sector lay all but dormant for decades, and now the competition is heating up rapidly, with Texas being one standout example. As of 2023 Texas had just one solar module factory<\/a> to its name, with about a dozen others producing racks and other related hardware. The Solar Energy Industries Association now counts 137 solar manufacturers<\/a> of various kinds in Texas, along with 240 other companies in the installer\/developer category and an additional 296 companies in solar-related fields.<\/p>\n

SEG has already indicated that it does not intend to sit on its laurels. \u201cThis new facility marks an important milestone for SEG,\u201d said the company\u2019s VP of Operations, Timothy Johnson.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt will further strengthen our U.S. manufacturing capabilities while supporting ongoing technology innovation,\u201d Johnson emphasized in a press statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe plant is designed with the flexibility to integrate next-generation technologies, including HJT, as the industry evolves,\u201d Johnson added.<\/p>\n

What Is This HJT Of Which You Speak?<\/p>\n

SEG launched its new SIERRA N HJT module series at the RE+ 2025 exhibition in Las Vegas last September. \u201cThe modules deliver up to 740 W of maximum power output with a conversion efficiency of 23.82%, and feature an ultra-low temperature coefficient of -0.24%\/\u00b0C.\u201d SEG<\/p>\n

\u201cThese technological advancements ensure stable performance and higher energy yields even under high-temperature, low-light, or complex environmental conditions,\u201d the company added.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith higher power density and improved system compatibility, the SIERRA N series reduces the number of modules required per project, effectively lowering BOS [balance of system] and LCOE costs while providing reliable and efficient solutions for utility-scale and C&I projects,\u201d they added again for good measure, with LCOE referring to the levelized cost of energy, a standard for comparing different energy technologies.<\/p>\n

Aside from lowering costs, the power density improvement can also help alleviate land use issues, cutting down on the space needed to generate the same amount of electricity. Potential impacts include more opportunities for small-scale solar in tight quarters as well as agrivoltaic applications<\/a> on farmland.<\/p>\n

Nothing Can Stop Solar Power Now<\/p>\n

Among other announcements at RE+ 2025, SEG also signed a cooperation agreement with the Indiana-based electrical supply and services firm Kirby Risk<\/a>. \u201cThe partnership will leverage SEG\u2019s advanced manufacturing and R&D capabilities at its Houston facility alongside Kirby Risk\u2019s leading local distribution and service network to accelerate the growth of clean energy in the U.S.,\u201d SEG explained, once again underscoring the speed factor.<\/p>\n

This year marks Kirby Risk\u2019s 100th anniversary in business and the solar industry has provided it with a fresh burst of adrenaline. Keep an eye on forthcoming solar activity in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Georgia, where the company maintains more than three dozen locations.<\/p>\n

Another SEG-adjacent firm to keep an eye on is the Arizona-based solar construction firm Erthos, which inked a licensing agreement with SEG in 2023. The startup\u2019s Earth Mount Solar<\/a> platform is a low-rise, modular system that practically eliminates expensive racking hardware. The agreement provides for SEG to manufacture modules that fit seamlessly into the Earth Mount system.<\/p>\n

SEG is just one example of the nonstop innovation that will keep pushing the solar envelope in the US regardless of partisan politics, with futuristic robotic installation systems<\/a> and space solar<\/a> power among other emerging elements. One has to wonder why President Trump and his allies in the Republican party are wasting so much time and energy on a losing battle\u2026then again, never mind.<\/p>\n

Photo: The Texas-based solar manufacturer<\/a> SEG Solar is among the firms continuing to push the solar power envelope despite the sharp U-turn in federal energy policy (cropped, courtesy of SEG).<\/p>\n

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