(Oil & Gas 360) – SEG Solar has secured land for a proposed $950 million solar cell manufacturing facility near Houston, Texas, advancing its strategy to establish a vertically integrated U.S. solar supply chain as demand grows for domestically produced energy equipment.The Houston-based manufacturer announced October 29 that the facility would be developed at its Tomball Industrial Campus and designed to produce 4 gigawatts of heterojunction solar cells annually. The investment is expected to create more than 700 jobs, with production beginning in two phases targeted for 2028 and 2029.The project would be located adjacent to SEG Solar’s existing 4 GW Tomball #1 module manufacturing facility and its 4.6 GW Tomball #2 facility, which is currently under construction.Once completed, the expansion would bring solar cell production, module assembly, and supporting component manufacturing together at one industrial campus, strengthening the company’s control over its domestic supply chain.The planned development includes manufacturing operations, warehousing, research and development facilities, and a certified testing laboratory. Additional production lines for encapsulation materials and junction boxes are also planned.SEG Solar intends to use heterojunction technology, commonly known as HJT, which combines different silicon layers to improve solar cell efficiency and performance.The company began producing commercial-scale HJT modules at its Tomball #1 facility in September, marking another step in its U.S. manufacturing expansion.Adding domestic solar cell production would allow SEG Solar to supply its Texas module operations with U.S.-manufactured components rather than relying entirely on imported cells.The strategy is particularly relevant as solar developers evaluate domestic content requirements, equipment sourcing risks, and the financial implications of federal energy policies.For developers, domestically manufactured cells and modules may support eligibility for certain incentives, depending on applicable regulations and the sourcing of other project components.SEG Solar Chief Executive Jim Wood said the company’s objective is to create a more integrated domestic manufacturing operation with greater supply-chain transparency and accountability.The proposed investment also reflects the increasing capital requirements associated with expanding U.S. clean energy manufacturing.Solar cell production requires specialized equipment, industrial facilities, electricity, water management systems, and reliable transportation infrastructure.For energy investors, these requirements create opportunities beyond solar manufacturing itself, including engineering, construction, industrial equipment, and supporting infrastructure services.However, the project remains in the planning stage. SEG Solar has announced the land agreement but has not disclosed a construction start date, financing arrangements, or detailed project development schedule.The economics of domestic solar manufacturing will also depend on equipment costs, factory utilization, international competition, trade policies, and demand from U.S. solar developers.The distinction between solar cell and module capacity is important. The planned 4 GW cell facility would supply components used in finished panels rather than represent an additional 4 GW of completed module production.Investors will be monitoring construction milestones, customer commitments, production costs, and the company’s ability to scale manufacturing competitively.SEG Solar’s expansion illustrates how investment in U.S. energy infrastructure increasingly includes the domestic production of equipment needed to support future electricity generation.Disclaimer This informational, opinion, and insights article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, or financial advice. The views expressed are based on publicly available information and market conditions at the time of publication and are subject to change without notice.