Translucent Solar Plans Dorchester County, South Carolina, Panel Manufacturing Operations

Area Development News Desk

08/21/2026

Solar technology manufacturer Translucent Solar plans to establish operations in Summerville, South Carolina. The approximately $15.7 million project is expected to create 167 jobs in Dorchester County.

The company’s approximately 281,000-square-foot 1.2-gigawatt solar panel manufacturing facility will produce high-efficiency photovoltaic modules. Production is scheduled to begin by the end of 2026.

“We are excited to invest in Dorchester County as we expand our U.S. footprint and bring our advanced energy solutions closer to our customers,” said Translucent Solar Managing Director Augustus Rylands. “The Summerville giga-factory is a first step in our multi-year plan that will see us expand upstream into cell, wafer and ingot manufacturing in the United States. Solar PV combined with storage contributed over 80% of new additions to the US grid last year, as electricity demand is surging to meet the needs of the AI race. We are proud to be bringing this strategic industry home to the USA.”

Translucent Solar assembles high-efficiency photovoltaic modules for residential, commercial, industrial, and utility-scale energy projects. The company specializes in solar module assembly, quality assurance, supply chain management, and production of N-type photovoltaic panels.

“South Carolina Ports welcomes Translucent to Dorchester County, and we look forward to supporting their business,” noted SC Ports President and CEO Micah Mallace. “This investment in our region is a testament to SC Ports’ reliable port service, dependability as a partner, and commitment to keeping businesses’ supply chains competitive.”

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