News & Updates

Silfab Solar is committed to building responsible community partnerships and positive economic impact for the region. See our latest corporate updates and facts about Silfab Solar's state-of-the-art South Carolina facility.

Silfab Solar COO addresses health, safety concerns about controversial manufacturing plant in exclusive interview

WCNC Charlotte’s Austin Walker spoke to Treff MacDonald about concerns that Fort Mill residents have over the plant’s potential health and environmental impacts. FORT […]

1-on-1 with Silfab Solar COO Treff MacDonald

WCNC Charlotte’s Austin Walker spoke to Treff MacDonald about concerns that Fort Mill residents have over the plant’s potential health and environmental impacts.

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MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Purpose

At Silfab Solar, our purpose is to make a difference in the world by reducing carbon emissions and improving access to clean energy with every module we make.

Vision

Silfab Solar's vision is to become the largest photovoltaic (PV) supplier in North America while advancing sustainable practices, pioneering innovative product and process technologies, and delivering reliable, high-quality solar solutions.

Values

At Silfab Solar, we value a safe, healthy, and diverse work environment where every team member is respected, supported, and empowered, and we hold ourselves to the highest standards of professionalism, adaptability, commitment, excellence, and reliability in everything we do.

Our Promise to York County

Silfab Solar is here to be your good neighbor, a good steward of the environment, and to spur economic growth for the region.

INFORMATION ABOUT OUR OPERATIONS

School Proximity

Silfab Solar welcomes the opportunity for the new school to be built near its facility. When the company moved into the light industrial zone, schools were not allowed to be built in these zones. There was a decision by York County Council to rezone our area to allow a school to be built. Our other facilities are in the middle of urban areas where we have developed multiple partnerships with businesses, educational institutions, charities and community groups. The health and safety of our employees and the community, along with environmental stewardship, are our top priorities.

Silfab Solar was approved to assemble solar cells and solar modules in December 2022 by York County.

York County’s Planning Commission rezoned LI to OI (March of 2023)

Learn more in FAQs.

Water Usage

The incoming water we receive from the City of Rock Hill will be purified through our on-site ultrapure water purification system before being used in our process. After leaving the process, the used water, now considered wastewater, gets treated through the permitted on-site wastewater treatment process before being discharged to the sanitary sewer. Upon release, the City of Rock Hill further cleans the water at its sanitary sewer facility to ensure safety and compliance.

Wet Scrubber

Silfab Solar's assembly processes will be contained to the inside of the building. South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (DES) approved a cleaning process that releases a steam-like, water vapor. This is not a smokestack, it is a wet process scrubber, that will be the same height as our building.

Two recent court decisions by the South Carolina Administrative Law Court further upheld a decision by DES that Silfab will meet or exceed all safety and air quality standards for wet scrubber operations. It should be noted that DES will conduct ongoing inspections and monitoring of our operations to ensure compliance.

Read the recently released court decisions HERE.

During cold weather months, neighbors may occasionally see steam.

Chemical Usage and Safety

Silfab Solar uses certain materials to assemble and clean products. The company has taken best in class steps to reduce any risk to our employees, their families and neighboring communities. Materials used during our assembly processes can all be found in household products. For instance hydrochloric acid is used for food processing i.e. soft drinks, cookies, ketchup and cereals. Hydroflouric acid is used in everyday pharmaceuticals and agriculture. Silane is used to develop smartphones, laptops and cars.

Zoning Classification

Our facility is zoned as light industrial. Silfab Solar’s operations are most comparable to manufacturing and assembly sites that produce textiles, furniture, electrical appliances and electronics, some of which is very well known in both York County and the state of South Carolina. These sites are also zoned as light industrial. In December 2022, York County verified that our assembly process was approved for the light industrial zone and reaffirmed this in a statement on June 25, 2024.

Solar Cell Manufacturing

As the U.S. seeks to increase the percentage of American-made components of solar modules, South Carolina is one of several states gearing up for domestic solar cell production in the country. Silfab Solar has over 40 years of experience in the solar industry and since 2010 has been assembling solar panels in North America. A team of highly skilled solar engineers, technicians and scientists with experience in solar cell assembly have been hired to make the South Carolina facility possible. The company puts the health and safety of our employees and the community first. Silfab has taken precautions that exceed any of the requirements put forth by the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) and the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH). These agencies were formerly DHEC, the health and environment authority here in South Carolina.

EPA Certification

Silfab Solar obtained certification for its Risk Management Plan October 5, 2024. A link to the certification is provided below along with the Risk Management Plan.

EPA Certifies Silfab Solar Risk Management Plan (Silfab Solar 10152024EPA_RMP Certified)
Risk Management Plan Submitted to EPA (Silfab Solar 10052024_RMP Submitted)
Appendix D to Risk Plan Submitted to EPA (Silfab Solar 10052024_RMPAppendixD)