Suniva, Inc. Expanding its Norcross Plant

Suniva, Inc., a Norcross-based manufacturer of solar cells, has more than quadrupled in size since opening in 2007 and another expansion is on the horizon.

Earlier this year, the company made a $15 million investment to shift production to a new, higher-efficiency solar cell and, last week, the company announced it will expand its 100,000-square foot plant and headquarters in Norcross again.

The expansion not only increases the facility's square footage, but will also provide 11 new jobs in a market where unemployment is hovering just north of 9 percent. Suniva has already hired 35 new employees since the start of this year.

Company officials say they expect to complete the latest expansion by next month or early September.

Suniva evolved from the work of Georgia Tech Professior Ajeet Rohatgi, Ph.D. at the school's Center for Excellence in Photovoltaics (PV). Rohatgi is the company's founder and Chief Technical Officer.

Company spokesman Bryan Ashley said Suniva collaborates closely with Georgia Tech. "When something is very promising, then we'll take it here to our own research and development lab, and turn that into a full-scale cell to determine if it's economically feasible to manufacture in a large scale."

A company press release states that "Suniva's high-efficiency modules already contain more than 80 percent U.S. content, one of the highest percentages of U.S. content in the industry. The latest expansion will allow the company to offer an even greater value for customers that require ‘Buy America’ compliant products."

Ashley says the company's primary goal is to drive mass adoption of high-efficiency PV technology, achieving significant environmental, economic and social benefits in the U.S. and around the world.