The Greenville Eastern North Carolina (ENC) Alliance, Pitt County, and City of Greenville are excited to welcome Boviet Solar to Pitt County, North Carolina. The project is expected to bring $294 million in new capital investment and 908 new jobs to Greenville-Pitt County.
“It’s great to welcome Boviet Solar to North Carolina,” said North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper. “This decision has proven yet again that North Carolina is a hub for clean energy, offering advanced manufacturers a skilled workforce, an excellent quality of life, and affordable communities to support its work in sustainability.”
The Vietnamese solar panel manufacturing and solar energy technology company is purchasing 1125 Sugg Parkway in Greenville, which was formerly DENSO North Carolina’s Greenville manufacturing plant, along with an adjacent 34-acre parcel.
"When you hear that we visited over 60 different locations across 9 states, you might think that making the final decision would be challenging. However, that's not the case. Greenville is simply the 'promised land' for Project Genesis,” said Mr. Zhaochun “Jimmy” Xie, CEO and General Manager of Boviet Solar. “Greenville’s excellent infrastructure allows Greenville Utilities to provide industrial-grade utility services promptly. ECU and Pitt Community College will supply ample technical labour and engineers. Plus, the Wilmington Port and well-connected highways offer convenient and reliable logistics support.”
Boviet specializes in manufacturing top-performing solar PV modules for solar projects. With the company’s Americas HQ and sales office in San Jose, CA, the new Greenville location will be its first manufacturing site in the United States and second globally.
“Since last year, our team has worked extremely hard with our partners at Pitt County and City of Greenville along with Boviet representatives and federal and state agencies to get this project to the finish line. Thanks to the work of many, a recently vacated building has been brought back to life and will soon be humming with production once again,” said Josh Lewis, President and CEO of the Greenville ENC Alliance. “The substantial capital investment and annual wages that this project will inject into the economy will ensure continued economic vibrancy in Greenville-Pitt County in the years ahead.”
Boviet narrowed its search to three locations in Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina before selecting Greenville-Pitt County.
“On behalf of the Board of County Commissioners, we are proud that Pitt County was ultimately selected for this project, which will bring with it significant investment and job creation,” said Chairman Mark C. Smith. “This announcement is a clear indicator that Pitt County is a prime location for advanced manufacturing.”
The PV module manufacturing facility will produce Boviet Solar’s TOPCon N-Type cell, technology-based Monofacial and Bifacial PV modules for residential, commercial, industrial, and utility-scale U.S. clients.
“Over the past few years, we’ve seen an increase in clean energy projects in the United States and in North Carolina. We are thrilled that Greenville-Pitt County will now be home to a Boviet Solar production facility as our area further diversifies our advanced manufacturing sectors to include clean energy,” said Greenville ENC Alliance Vice President of Business Development Uconda Dunn. “Working with Boviet leadership and their consultants throughout this site selection process was a pleasure and we are honored to have them in our community.”
The more than 900 jobs will be hired through 2028 and will include employees in production, equipment, process, quality, IT, finance, human resources, administration, and procurement. Annual wages will exceed the Pitt County average salary of $50,937.
“I could not be more excited to welcome Boviet Solar to Greenville,” Mayor P.J. Connelly said. “Since taking the oath of Mayor, I have been a strong advocate for partnerships and collaboration in our economic development work. Welcoming a manufacturer of this magnitude in our community is a win for Greenville, Pitt County, and all of eastern North Carolina, and we owe a lot of it to our collaborative efforts.”
The U.S. solar industry has been key for Boviet Solar since it first entered the market in 2017. Boviet Solar is also a Bloomberg New Energy Finance Tier 1 PV Module Manufacturer.
“This investment in North Carolina's 1st District speaks volumes about the strength of our community and our shared dedication to fostering innovation and sustainability,” said Congressman Donald G. Davis (NC-01). “I look forward to seeing the positive impact this project will bring to the East.”
The company offers financial and business stability, technology expertise, manufacturing excellence, top-performing PV modules, strong ESG protocol, and supply chain transparency. Boviet Solar’s PV modules are known for their power, performance, and quality and have been rated as top performers on PVEL’s PV Module Reliability Scorecard.
“North Carolina is a leading state for STEM talent and has the largest manufacturing workforce in the southeastern United States,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders.
In fact, the Greenville-Pitt County MSA was ranked first in the nation for STEM Education Completions per 1,000 adults, according to the 2023 Tech Innovation Index.
“As we continue to transition to a clean energy economy, we are committed to being first in talent and providing the research and workforce training partnerships that innovative companies need for today and tomorrow,” added Secretary Sanders.
The manufacturing facility includes two phases. Phase one of the project will utilize the existing building to manufacture solar modules. Phase two will include constructing a state-of-the-art 500,000 to 600,000-square-foot facility on 34 acres to manufacture PV cells. This location is expected to output 2 GW of solar panels and 2 GW of PV cells annually.
"This announcement is a testament to what can be achieved when communities, businesses, and government agencies come together with a shared vision," said Drake Brinkley, Chairman of the Greenville ENC Alliance Board of Directors and Ward and Smith Commercial Real Estate Attorney. "By fulfilling our commitment and bringing in a wave of jobs and investment, we are not just boosting local economies; we are also igniting innovation and sustainable growth in our region. This influx of opportunities will not only benefit our workforce but also drive us towards a more prosperous and sustainable future."
Key partners in the project include the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, the North Carolina General Assembly, North Carolina Community College System, Golden LEAF Foundation, Greenville ENC Alliance, Pitt County, ElectriCities of North Carolina, Greenville Utilities Commission, and City of Greenville.
“The professionalism, dedication, and enthusiasm of the staff from EDPNC, Greenville ENC Alliance, Pitt County, GUC, and City of Greenville provide huge support the project and that leads us to believe we will be part of the local economic development,” added Mr. Xie. “And of course, Greenville's name hints at promising prospects for the renewable energy industry."
The production facility’s official opening is scheduled for early 2025.
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Media Relations Contact:
Maria Satira
Director of Marketing and Communications
Greenville Eastern North Carolina Alliance
satira@encalliance.com
252-414-2875
