Yates Construction has been chosen by T1 Energy to oversee pre-construction services and site preparation for its planned US$850 million G2_Austin 5 GW solar cell facility in Texas.
Also, the commissioners in Milam County, Texas, unanimously approved a long-term tax abatement package for T1 Energy. The incentive is contingent on the company meeting or exceeding pre-set employment and investment levels.
T1 Energy (T1) chose a lease and option to buy a 100-acre site in Milam County, Texas, for its G2 Austin, a 5 GW solar cell manufacturing facility within the Sandow Lakes Advanced Manufacturing and Logistix Campus. T1 will build “G2 Austin,” a mass-producing solar cell factory with an estimated capital expenditure of up to $850 million. Once in production, the facility could produce up to 1,800 advanced manufacturing jobs, pending the negotiation of state and local incentives.
Construction start
Scheduled to start operations in the second half of 2026, the five-gigawatt solar cell manufacturing plant will supply major components to solar panels. If it’s built according to schedule, G2 Austin would be among the biggest solar production facilities in the nation.
“The last few months of this year and early 2025 are a critical part of our journey as T1 Energy,” commented Daniel Barcelo, T1’s Chairman and CEO at the time of unveiling of the facility. “After closing a major acquisition on an accelerated timeline, we now are intent on implementing the next phases of our plan to become a preeminent American provider of integrated solar and battery storage solutions. Our groups are progressing well to increase solar module manufacturing at G1 Dallas, progress work on our proposed G2 Austin solar cell factory, and lead a global corporate transition to build a robust cash flow business. Forward-looking to 2025 and beyond, we envision dramatic opportunities for expansion in the U.S. solar and battery storage market and are committed to making T1 a primary driver of American energy, jobs creation, and advanced manufacturing.”
T1 will require expansion of its U.S. supply chain
Barcelo said that T1 will require expansion of its domestic supply chain. “Bringing solar cell manufacturing into our operations is a critical step in strengthening our U.S. supply chain,” he said. “We are excited to make this investment in Texas, a state whose leadership and business community have fostered the infrastructure, talent, and economic environment needed to support this project,” he said. “We appreciate the support we’ve received from Wilmer, Austin, and Milam County, and we look forward to the opportunity to work together in the future.”
SSOE Group is partnering with T1 to ensure the upcoming facility is powered by domestic, affordable solar energy.
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T1’s Solar Manufacturing Facility in Texas: Factsheet
Project Overview
Company: T1 Energy
Project Name: G2 Austin
Location: 100-acre site in Milam County, Texas (Advanced Manufacturing and Logistix Campus at Sandow Lakes)
Type: Solar cell manufacturing facility
Status: Secured lease with purchase option; production planned for late 2026
Investment & Impact
Capital Investment: Up to $850 million
Job Creation: Potential for 1,800 advanced manufacturing jobs
Production Capacity: Five-gigawatt solar cell facility
Significance: Expected to be among the largest solar manufacturing plants in the US
G2 Austin Facility: Strategic Importance
Critical component of T1 Energy’s US supply chain development
Follows successful G1 Dallas solar module production facility
Part of company strategy to become leading American provider of integrated solar and battery storage solutions
Timeline & Development
Lease and purchase option secured
Production targeted for second half of 2026
Project contingent on successful negotiation of state and local incentives
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