Tesla begins production of solar cells at Buffalo gigafactory
It has taken three years, during which time the technology and even the companies involved have changed, but the much anticipated SolarCity “gigafactory” in Buffalo, New York has finally produced its first PV cells.
This news was broken late last week by Associated Press, and reaffirmed by a statement by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Details are limited and it appears that so far this is only test production, as Tesla Chief Technology Officer J B Straubel told the Associated Press that ramp-of Tesla’s Solar Roof modules will begin “in a substantial way” by the end of 2017.
In September 2014, when SolarCity officially began construction of the plant, a statement by Governor Cuomo indicated that the factory could begin making modules as early as the first quarter of 2016.
But building the largest PV cell and module factory in the Western Hemisphere, using technology that has only been produced on a pilot scale, is not an easy or direct task. SolarCity was mum as that initial optimistic timeframe came and went.
The big changes came in late 2016. The factory was originally planned to make PV cells and modules based on Silevo’s high-efficiency technology, but as Tesla took over SolarCity, the company began making statements about “combining” Silevo’s technology with that of its long-time manufacturing partner Panasonic. This actually meant that Silevo would be replaced with Panasonic as the technology provider.
Around the same time, Tesla began hinting that in addition to making standard PV modules, the new factory would produce a new Solar Roof product, with which Tesla CEO Elon Musk plans to bring back building-integrated photovoltaics in a new way. The first pilot Solar Roof tiles have already been manufactured at a smaller facility in Fremont and the first Solar Roofs have already been installed.
Either way, the state of New York is heavily invested in this project, which is located on the site of a former steel mill and is part of the state’s efforts to revitalize Buffalo. In fact, Tesla doesn’t even own the factory; but leases it from a non-profit associated with State University of New York.
These interests were reflected in New York Governor Cuomo’s statement on Friday. “The start of production at Tesla’s cutting edge solar plant by Panasonic is an exciting development for Buffalo and all of Western New York, and we look forward to seeing this factory play a growing role in the city’s economic transformation,” declared Governor Cuomo. “This is the first of many milestones to come, marking the launch of a world-class manufacturing hub that will continue to create jobs for New Yorkers and solidify New York’s role as a leader in the clean energy economy.”
And while Tesla expects that the plant will eventually ramp up to not only 1 but 2 GW of production, this is only the beginning. Elon Musk is already talking about the locations for future solar and battery gigafactories, based on the battery factory in Reno and the plant in Buffalo.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected].
Please login to comment
[…] PV magazine reported, it has taken three years, during which time the technology and even the companies […]
[…] begin for months after the initial announcement. But one year later — following delays and a brief trial run — Panasonic reports that cell manufacturing for the solar roof is now officially […]
[…] did not begin for months after the initial announcement. But one year later — following delays and a brief trial run — Panasonic reports that cell manufacturing for the solar roof is now officially […]
[…] begin for months after the initial announcement. But one year later — following delays and a brief trial run — Panasonic reports that cell manufacturing for the solar roof is now officially […]
[…] did not begin for months after the initial announcement. But one year later — following delays and a brief trial run — Panasonic reports that cell manufacturing for the solar roof is now officially […]
[…] begin for months after the initial announcement. But one year later — following delays and a brief trial run — Panasonic reports that cell manufacturing for the solar roof is now officially […]
[…] begin for months after the initial announcement. But one year later — following delays and a brief trial run — Panasonic reports that cell manufacturing for the solar roof is now officially […]
[…] begin for months after the initial announcement. But one year later — following delays and a brief trial run — Panasonic reports that cell manufacturing for the solar roof is now officially […]
[…] begin for months after the initial announcement. But one year later — following delays and a brief trial run — Panasonic reports that cell manufacturing for the solar roof is now officially […]
[…] PV magazine reported, it has taken three years, during which time the technology and even the companies […]
[…] Delays at Tesla’s highly anticipated solar cell and module manufacturing facility in Buffalo, New York are a testament to how difficult it is to launch such an operation in the U.S. SolarCity officially began construction of the plant in 2014 and anticipated starting production in early 2016. The facility finally produced it first PV cells at the end of August. Production is now expected to begin ramping by the end of the year. […]
[…] Delays at Tesla’s highly anticipated solar cell and module manufacturing facility in Buffalo, New York are a testament to how difficult it is to launch such an operation in the U.S. SolarCity officially began construction of the plant in 2014 and anticipated starting production in early 2016. The facility finally produced it first PV cells at the end of August. Production is now expected to begin ramping by the end of the year. […]
[…] Delays at Tesla’s highly anticipated solar cell and module manufacturing facility in Buffalo, New York are a testament to how difficult it is to launch such an operation in the U.S. SolarCity officially began construction of the plant in 2014 and anticipated starting production in early 2016. The facility finally produced it first PV cells at the end of August. Production is now expected to begin ramping by the end of the year. […]
[…] Delays at Tesla’s highly anticipated solar cell and module manufacturing facility in Buffalo, New York are a testament to how difficult it is to launch such an operation in the U.S. SolarCity officially began construction of the plant in 2014 and anticipated starting production in early 2016. The facility finally produced it first PV cells at the end of August. Production is now expected to begin ramping by the end of the year. […]
[…] According to the announcement, the new factory will reflect the production capacity of that of its main facility in Fremont, California. The Chinese factory would also be Tesla’s first manufacturing site outside of the […]