Solar Cell Manufacturer To Create 500 Jobs In NW Georgia

DALTON, GA — Gov. Nathan Deal on Wednesday announced that Hanwha Q CELLS Korea, a leader in the global solar industry, will create more than 500 jobs and invest $150 million in a new solar module manufacturing facility in northwest Georgia.

Hanwha Q CELLS Korea will produce high-performance and high-quality photovoltaic modules at the new facility in Dalton, which is scheduled for completion in 2019.

“Georgia has maintained strong partnerships with Korean businesses for more than three decades and this announcement is yet another reflection of our reputation as a premier destination for international business,” Gov. Deal said. “By establishing a presence in Whitfield County, Hanwha Q CELLS Korea will join a number of Korean-affiliated companies that operate at least 80 facilities in our state. As the No. 1 state for business, Georgia offers the skilled workforce and extensive manufacturing resources needed for Hanwha Q CELLS Korea to maintain its competitive edge in the global solar industry. We appreciate Hanwha Q CELLS Korea’s significant investment in Georgia and look forward to the company’s success in Dalton.”

Hanwha Q CELLS is headquartered in South Korea and currently operates manufacturing facilities in Malaysia and China.

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“We are very pleased that Hanwha Q CELLS Korea has chosen Whitfield County for the location of their U.S. manufacturing facility,” said Whitfield County Commission Chair Lynn Laughter. “We are confident they will be successful here and be a great addition to our manufacturing base.”

Georgia Department of Economic Development Senior Project Manager Yoonie Kim represented the Global Commerce Division in partnership with the Georgia Center of Innovation for Energy Technology, the Dalton-Whitfield County Joint Development Authority and Georgia EMC.

“We are excited to bring our technology leadership to Georgia in manufacturing solar modules and look forward to building long-term relationships to further expand our manufacturing base and contribute to environmentally sustainable energy solutions,” said James Choi, vice president of Hanwha Q CELLS Korea.

Founded in April 2011, Hanwha Q CELLS Korea is an affiliate of Hanwha Group and a sister company to Hanwha Q CELLS Co., Ltd., one of the world´s largest solar cell producers. Hanwha Q CELLS Korea operates production sites for state-of-the-art solar cells and solar modules in South Korea.

Hanwha Q CELLS Co., Ltd. is a global leading photovoltaic manufacturer of high-performance, high-quality solar cells and modules. Headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, it has its Technology and Innovation HQ in Thalheim, Germany, and manufacturing facilities in Malaysia and China.

For more information, visit the company's website.

Images via Hanwha Q CELLS Korea