Silicon Valley solar company AQT Solar will open a second plant in South Carolina to meet growing demand for its low-cost solar cells.
The privately held company is one of several small U.S. makers of copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) thin film solar cells, which cost less to make than silicon-based cells, but are less efficient at turning sunlight into electricity.
Other CIGS manufacturers include Global Solar, NanoSolar, Miasole and Solyndra.
AQT's new factory in Blythewood, South Carolina, near Columbia, will be able to produce about 1 gigawatt of solar cells by the end of 2014. It will begin production in the first quarter of 2012 and will employ 1,000 workers over the next four years.
AQT is based in Sunnyvale, California, where its first plant is located. That plant began shipping the company's products to customers last month. AQT's customers include a resort in Mexico that will use AQT solar cells in a small 2-megawatt power plant on its grounds.
AQT, which started in 2007, will produce less than 50 MW this year at the Sunnyvale plant, according to Chief Executive Michael Bartholomeusz.
AQT has raised more than $20 million, but will not disclose its investors, Bartholomeusz said.
He credited the company's quick growth with its reliance on a partner, Intevac, for its manufacturing equipment, and for its decision to focus only on making solar cells. The company has partnered with Solar Enertech and HelioPower to turn its cells into modules.
