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When trying to single out the greatest of all abilities, oftentimes availability is considered the best. While Tomball’s availability of infrastructure and workforce was certainly attractive to Imperial Star Solar, the city’s multifarious characteristics and abilities that make it an unmatched market for business are ultimately what led Imperial Star to select Tomball as the home for its first solar panel manufacturing facility in the United States.
An innovative solar energy manufacturer, Imperial Star Solar Co., Ltd. is a company employing 1,500 professionals and committed to a brighter, more sustainable future through its renewable energy initiatives. One of the first solar panel companies to set their manufacturing footprint in the U.S., Imperial Star signed a 380,000 square foot lease agreement – choosing to invest in Tomball over other options in Texas, Ohio and North Carolina.
“We believe solar power is changing the world, and we need to continue the momentum solar has gained,” Imperial Star Solar CEO Isabella Xu said.
Imperial Star will be able to maintain that momentum by manufacturing reliable, utility scale solar modules in a state-of-the-art facility located in Tomball’s Interchange 249. The plant will be able to manufacture two gigawatts of solar panels – enough energy to power 1,500,000 homes.
“Our vertical integration is what sets us apart from our competitors,” Xu added. “We own all the manufacturing for each part of our products, including the modules we assemble here in Tomball. With an integrated supply chain, we’re better able to serve our customers and clients as we strive to be the leading domestic provider of the most-innovative solar technology available to the market.”
Imperial Star is producing more than just energy solutions in Tomball. The company, guided by a principle of reliability to its customers, says its inaugural U.S. investment will feature two production lines and provide 350 jobs to the area upon reaching full capacity.
“Currently, we’re only occupying half the total capacity of this facility,” Zack Cui, Business Director for Imperial Star Solar, noted.
“Within the first year of setting up the factory, we’ll hire roughly 180 new jobs. It’s going to be operating 24 hours a day, so we are creating two or three shifts. By the end of 2025, we plan to double our output.”
In addition to offering premier talent, Tomball also showcases business-friendly principles and community partnerships. To help bring Imperial Star’s milestone manufacturing operation to town, Tomball City Council approved a Tomball Economic Development Corporation-sponsored performance incentive agreement with the company.
“This is the perfect place to grow an energy company,” Xu said of Tomball. “We were hoping to identify somewhere with a booming solar landscape, great infrastructure for manufacturing and a favorable market for business.”
Solar is rarely the first sector that comes to mind for most people when thinking of this region – an area known as the “energy capital of the world”. However, Tomball embraced the opportunity to add Imperial Star and its innovative solar energy capabilities to the Texas portfolio of energy-based companies.
Through a cost sharing agreement with the City of Tomball, Lovett Industrial constructed a water tower to help provide better water pressure to tenants of the park and residents in surrounding communities. Additionally, Lovett Industrial worked with the city to create a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) that enables additional incremental tax revenue generated by Interchange 249 to cover the cost of infrastructure being added.
Imperial Star showcases flexibility, too. The company cites agility as one of its pillars and praises Tomball for being prepared to adapt to an ever-evolving energy industry.
“Our business is always changing – whether it’s policy, law, supply chain issues or new technology,” Xu noted. “We at Imperial Star are always able to adapt to these changes and continue to provide for our customers. Tomball, part of a historically oil and gas region, has built great connections with us and fostered important discussions on renewable energy transition.”
By finding a perfect fit for its inaugural U.S. factory, Imperial Star Solar will be able to shine bright and showcase the company’s sustainability, reliability and adaptability while manufacturing to the best of its ability in Tomball.