SUMTER COUNTY, S.C. — Sumter County will be getting 300 new jobs and helping the nation go green in the process after it was announced that SEM Wafertech Inc and Solar4America Technology are establishing their first operations facility in South Carolina.
SEM Wafertech Inc and Solar4America Technology are owned by SPI Energy Co., LTD., a global renewable energy source and the Sumter County location -- at 1150 Clipper Road, near the Privateer and Lakewood communities -- will help meet the demand for solar power across the United States.
SEM Wafertech Inc. is a leading solar wafer manufacturer and is expecting to produce and deliver its first solar wafers in the US by the end of the year, with capacity ramping to three gigawatts by 2024.
Solar4America Technology produces "Made in the USA" solar modules. The new Sumter facility, combined with the output of the company's Sacramento, California, facility will be able to manufacture a wider variety of solar panels for customers.
Silicone wafers manufactured at the Sumter facility will be used in a wide variety of applications, including photovoltaic cells and semiconductors. Solar panels will serve commercial, residential and industrial energy generation and storage needs.
SEM Wafertech Inc. and Solar4America Technology, Inc. Chairman Denton Peng said, “As a global renewable energy company making American-made solar wafers and modules, we recognize the importance of having a strong domestic supply chain to meet the fast-growing demand for affordable solar power. We plan to bring the highest-quality domestically produced solar wafers and modules to market, enhancing our nation’s manufacturing capabilities with a long-term investment that will create good paying jobs for South Carolina.”
Operations are expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2023. Individuals interested in joining the team should visit the company’s careers page.