Cartersville Vertically Integrated Factory by Hanwha Qcells: status and timeline

Milestones

Next · Ramp to 3.3 GW annual cell capacity

Cartersville factory announced2023Complete.
Dalton module line expanded to 5.1 GWQ4 2023Complete.
Cartersville ingot-to-wafer line begins2025Complete.
First solar cells producedJun 2026Complete.
Ramp to 3.3 GW annual cell capacityTarget Q3 2026Current milestone.
Full vertical integration operationalTarget Q4 2026Not yet reached.

Most important updates

Hanwha Qcells begins solar cell production in Cartersville, GeorgiaJun 2026

Upcoming

Q3 2026Ramp to 3.3 GW annual cell capacity (next)
Q4 2026Full vertical integration operational
Q4 2026First vertically integrated module deliveries

Current obstacles

Cost competitiveness vs Asian producersAsian suppliers have lower labor/energy costs. Must leverage tariffs and integration to justify US production.
Scaling next-generation cellsFactory started with proven monocrystalline design. Transitioning to PERC, bifacial or back-contact requires R&D.

Physics limits

Labor costsUS labor is roughly 3-5x higher than Southeast Asia. This handicaps ingot/wafer production unless tariffs offset.
Electricity costsUS industrial electricity (~$0.08/kWh) exceeds coal-rich China (~$0.04/kWh). Energy-intensive wafer cutting feels the difference.

How it works

4 parts

Silicon ingot

Grow pure silicon crystals

Cartersville produces polysilicon or monosilicon ingots—the raw material for solar cells. Typically done in Asia; US production cuts shipping and tariffs.

Wafer

Slice ingots into thin discs

Saws cut ingots into thin wafers (~200 micrometers). Each ingot yields many wafers. Cartersville does this in-house.

Solar cell

Dope, diffuse and add contacts

Wafers undergo diffusion, texturing and metallization to become solar cells. Cartersville began cell production June 2026.

Module

Laminate cells into panels

Cells connected in series, laminated between glass and polymer, framed. Dalton assembles modules using Cartersville cells.

Spec sheet

Spec	Cartersville Vertically Integrated Factory
Cartersville cell capacity	3.3 GW^R (reported)
Dalton module capacity	5.1 GW^R (reported)
Combined module capacity	8.6 GW^R (reported)
Homes powered annually	1,300,000^R (reported)
Annual panel production	47,000^R (reported)
Cartersville recycling capacity	250 MW^R (reported)
Expected employees by end-2026	4,000^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

Update log

1 update

Jun 2026

Major: Hanwha Qcells begins solar cell production in Cartersville, GeorgiaPressManufacturing

About Hanwha Qcells

The team behind Cartersville Vertically Integrated Factory

Hanwha Qcells

Solar cells modules, US manufacturing, vertical integration

Hanwha Qcells is a South Korean solar manufacturer operating vertically integrated manufacturing in the US. The company produces ingots, wafers, cells and modules under one roof at Cartersville and Dalton, Georgia, with combined annual capacity of 8.6 GW of modules.

First vertically integrated US solar factory in Cartersville, GA. Cell production began June 2026; 3.3 GW annual capacity.
Combined with Dalton facility: 8.6 GW modules/year, powering 1.3 million homes; 4,000 US jobs by end-2026.
Subsidiary of Hanwha Group (South Korea), part of conglomerate's renewable energy division.

qcells.com (opens qcells.com)Company profile →

Founded: 199927 yrs
Headquarters: South Korea
Status: Privateof Hanwha Group
Valuation: private
Works in: EnergySolar
Coverage: 1 program · 1 updatelatest 1 Jun 2026checked 11 Oct
Customers: Solar installers and developers
Partners: Hanwha Group

Spec

Cartersville Vertically Integrated Factory

Cartersville cell capacity

3.3 GW^R (reported)

Dalton module capacity

5.1 GW^R (reported)

Combined module capacity

8.6 GW^R (reported)

Homes powered annually

1,300,000^R (reported)

Annual panel production

47,000^R (reported)

Cartersville recycling capacity

250 MW^R (reported)

Expected employees by end-2026

4,000^R (reported)