Texas company reveals plans for $850 million solar manufacturing plant
The Lone Star State isn't only known for oil and gas.
Texas is becoming the solar energy capital of the U.S., among the nationwide leaders in generation of this renewable resource. Some power plants in the state are even getting incentives to make the switch to clean energy. But capacity isn't the only way in which Texas is leading this sun-fueled charge: one manufacturer just announced it's doubling down on its big Lone Star State bet.
T1 Energy, an energy manufacturer headquartered in Austin, revealed Monday that it will develop an $850 million solar manufacturing facility in Rockdale, about 60 miles east of Austin. There, at the Advanced Manufacturing and Logistix Campus at Sandow Lakes, T1 will build up to 5 gigawatts (GW) of solar cells, creating up to 1,800 jobs in the process. T1 says it will be one of the largest solar manufacturing facilities in the U.S. when completed.
"As we look forward to 2025 and beyond, we are excited about the growth prospects for the U.S. solar and battery storage market, and we are focused on establishing T1 as an engine of American energy, jobs, and advanced manufacturing," said T1 Chairman of the Board and CEO Daniel Barcelo in a statement.
Formerly known as Freyr Battery, T1 re-branded in February upon its move to Austin. The company was formed in 2018 and planned to construct a $2.6 billion facility in the Atlanta, Georgia, area. Freyr sold the property for $50 million, according to reports, before making the move to Texas. Around the same time, the company purchased a 5 GW solar factory in Wilmer, about 15 miles south of Dallas.
"We look forward to building our teams in Austin and Wilmer, establishing a Texas job creation engine, and working with our partners across industry and government to invest in critical U.S. infrastructure," Barcelo said in February.
The news comes amid reports that Texas continues to be in front in solar power generation nationwide. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the Lone Star State generated about 40 GWh of combined small-scale and utility-scale solar power in 2024, second only to California.