Boviet Solar, a Vietnamese Tier 1 solar technology company that specializes in the production of photovoltaic (PV) solar modules and solar project developments, has selected Pitt County as the location for its first U.S.-based solar panel manufacturing facility. The company will invest $294 million in the new Greenville, North Carolina, facility, creating 908 new jobs.
Founded in 2013 in Vietnam, Boviet Solar is a global Tier 1 solar technology company that specializes in the production of PV solar modules and solar project developments. The company has a significant presence in the United States through its U.S. entity, Boviet Solar USA, which is headquartered in San Jose, California. The Pitt County project will be divided into two phases, with Phase 1 consisting of assembling solar panel components shipped from overseas and Phase 2 manufacturing PV cells.
“North Carolina has a long-established record as a leader in the green economy, having been the first state in the Southeast to adopt a renewable energy portfolio standard,” said Christopher Chung, CEO of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC). “The state is committed to assisting in the growth of the sustainable economy and, with North Carolina’s innovative workforce development programs and largest manufacturing workforce in the Southeast, is a perfect home for Boviet Solar. We are thrilled to see their positive impact on the state’s economy and greater sustainability efforts in the years ahead.”
Boviet Solar is only the second Vietnamese company to announce the addition of a location in North Carolina. In 2022, VinFast, an auto manufacturer building a new line of electric vehicles, announced it selected Chatham County as the location for its first North American automotive assembly and battery manufacturing plant, investing more than $2 billion and creating 7,500 jobs. This is North Carolina’s first car manufacturing plant, and the announcement was one of the largest economic development announcements in the state’s history.
Although wages will vary depending on the position, the average salary for Boviet Solar’s new positions will exceed Pitt County’s average wage of $50,937.
The EDPNC worked with state and local entities, over five months, providing constant support to consulting teams as real estate was evaluated and labor and cost of business comparisons were conducted.
The EDPNC would like to recognize the North Carolina Department of Commerce as well as other key partners involved in this project, including the North Carolina General Assembly, North Carolina Community College System, Golden LEAF Foundation, Greenville Eastern North Carolina Alliance, Pitt County, Electricities of North Carolina, Greenville Utilities Commission, and City of Greenville.