Battery manufacturing company Canadian Solar is set to build a new solar photovoltaic cell (PV) manufacturing plant at the River Ridge Commerce Center in Jeffersonville, Indiana, US.

The facility is anticipated to have an annual production capacity of 5GW, which is equivalent to approximately 20,000 high-power modules per day.

With an estimated investment of more than $800m, this facility, once operational, is set to generate roughly 1,200 skilled high-tech jobs.

Jeffersonville mayor Mike Moore said: “When in full production, their [Canadian Solar's] total employment base will include over 150 engineers at this facility. We are thrilled to see a global industry leader join our community and provide a product with enormous potential.”

Solar cells manufactured at this facility will be used in Canadian Solar's 5GW module assembly factory in Mesquite, Texas, US.

The Jeffersonville plant is planned to commence production by the end of 2025.

Canadian Solar senior vice-president Thomas Koerner said: “Establishing this factory is a key milestone that will enable us to better serve our US customers with the most advanced technology in the industry.

“This is the second of the anticipated long-term investments we expect to make in the US as we think strategically about a local, sustainable, and clean energy supply chain and to fulfil the long-term requirements of the local-content rules of the recently established IRA.

“We thank the State of Indiana, Clark County, and the City of Jeffersonville for their critical support and look forward to working with them as we grow.”