CS PowerTech Inc., a subsidiary of Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ), has opened the first phase of a photovoltaic cell manufacturing facility at the River Ridge Commerce Center in Jeffersonville, Indiana.

According to the company, the facility is designed to produce heterojunction (HJT) bifacial N-type solar cells. At full capacity, the plant is expected to produce more than 6 gigawatts-peak annually and support more than 1,200 jobs in Southern Indiana, representing nearly $1 billion in local investment.

The Jeffersonville facility complements CS PowerTech's existing module manufacturing plant in Mesquite, Texas, forming what the company describes as a vertically integrated domestic supply chain.

Rusty Schmit, President of CS PowerTech, said the facility "will produce next-generation HJT solar cells, support domestic manufacturing, and ultimately strengthen grid reliability as our customers deploy the products."

Colin Parkin, Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Solar, said the plant "gives CS PowerTech the ability to deliver leading technology, improved energy yield, and long-term value for customers while strengthening domestic advanced manufacturing."

The company said it plans to ramp production to full capacity for phase one over the coming months, with phase two expansion expected to begin before the end of the year.