Image: T1 Energy Inc.
On June 16, 2025, T1 Energy Inc. (NYSE:TE) announced that it has selected a local construction company and secured a tax abatement package to aid the development of its 5GW solar cell plant in the US.
The Austin-based renewable energy power generation company, formerly known as Freyr Battery, selected the Milam County site in Austin, Texas, for the G2_Austin solar cell plant earlier this year.
Mississippi-based Yeats Construction will deliver pre-construction services and site preparations for the $850mn G2_Austin solar cell plant. T1 Energy also anticipates coming to terms with Yates as general contractor on the job. No contract value was disclosed.
The commissioners of Milam County, Texas, have unanimously voted to offer T1 Energy a long-term tax abatement package, contingent upon the company meeting or surpassing specific employment and investment benchmarks at the facility.
Russell Gold, Executive Vice President stated that it in order to receive tax incentives, T1 Energy must invest at least US$700 million into the facility and hire at least 1000 workers. This facility is anticipated to start production by the end of 2026 and create “up to” 1800 full-time jobs.
G2_Austin is a component of T1 Energy's strategy to establish a domestic solar and battery supply chain. According to T1, this initiative aims to provide the US with “scalable” and “low-cost” energy solutions. In combination with the company’s fully operational G1_Dallas 5 GW solar module facility, T1 Energy plans to address unmet customer demand for US solar cells and modules using TOPCon technology.
T1 CEO and board chairman Daniel Barcelo said: “Solar energy is a foundational part of American power grids. Our facilities will manufacture solar cells and modules to invigorate our economy with abundant energy. We’re excited to work with Yates and Milam County to bring American advanced manufacturing to the heart of Texas and to unlock our most scalable energy resources”.
T1 Energy acquired a 5GW module assembly plant, also in Texas, from Chinese manufacturer Trinasolar last year. In the first quarter of this year, the G1 Dallas facility produced 442MW of PV modules, and T1 Energy plans to use tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) cells produced at the G2 Austin facility in its modules.
