Production begins at Norcross solar cell factory

Norcross-based solar cell maker Suniva started commercial production this week, less than five months after announcing the location of its first factory.

The company’s initial production line is just starting to ramp up, spokeswoman Wendy Rosen said. The company didn’t announce when it would reach full-scale production of its solar cells, which are said to bring higher efficiencies and lower cost to the market.

CEO John Baumstark said getting the company up and running so quickly was a feat to be proud of.

“Going from plans to production in a record time of under 12 months, we’ve raised the bar for new solar cell manufacturers and demonstrated how quickly Georgia’s clean energy community can grow,” he said.

Suniva makes cells that go into larger panels that soak up sunlight to be transformed into electricity. The technology was developed by Georgia Tech professor Ajeet Rohatgi

The Norcross factory is designed to make enough cells each year to power 10,000 homes. The company has plans to triple that capacity within a few years.

The company already has contracts worth nearly $1 billion from European and Indian solar module makers. Those agreements came before commercial production began at the plant.

Suniva’s decision to build in Norcross was hailed by state and local officials as a big step forward for Georgia’s efforts to attract technology companies that can bring high-paying jobs to the region.

The company is getting about $10 million in incentives from the state and Gwinnett County, mostly property tax relief.