Skip to main content

FREYR rebrands after killing its $2.6B Georgia battery factory plans

After scrapping plans to build a $2.6 billion battery energy storage system factory in Georgia, FREYR Battery (NYSE: FREY) has rebranded itself as T1 Energy (NYSE: TE).

FREYR turned T1 Energy also has a new strategy: It says it’s committed to “becoming a vertically integrated US solar + battery storage leader from its new corporate headquarters in Austin, Texas.” T1 Energy expects to start trading under its new NYSE symbols on March 3.

In August, then-CEO Tom Einar Jensen told investors that a surplus of cheap Chinese batteries had made it harder to raise money to manufacture batteries, so the company switched its focus to solar panel manufacturing.

On December 24, FREYR announced closing its acquisition of China-headquartered Trina Solar’s 5-gigawatt (GW), 1.35 million-square-foot solar panel factory in Wilmer, Texas. The company renamed the factory G1 Dallas, and it employs more than 1,000 people. T1 says the solar panel production ramp is on schedule.

Advertisement - scroll for more content

Daniel Barcelo, T1’s chairman of the board and chief executive officer, said, “More than 80% of new US electricity capacity in 2024 was solar and batteries. T1 plans to lead in the solar and battery markets by enabling the growth in energy supply required to support AI, data centers, reshoring, and electrification – to restore American industrial capacity and leadership in future advanced industries.”

T1 is moving forward with site selection for its upcoming US solar cell factory, G2, and expects to lock in a location by Q1 2025. Construction is still on track to kick off in mid-2025.

Read more: Chinese solar giant Trina sells its Texas factory a week after it opens


To limit power outages and make your home more resilient, consider going solar with a battery storage system. In order to find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and you share your phone number with them.

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate link*

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Stay up to date with the latest content by subscribing to Electrek on Google News. You’re reading Electrek— experts who break news about Tesla, electric vehicles, and green energy, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow Electrek on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our YouTube channel for the latest reviews.

Comments

Author

Avatar for Michelle Lewis Michelle Lewis

Michelle Lewis is a writer and editor on Electrek and an editor on DroneDJ, 9to5Mac, and 9to5Google. She lives in White River Junction, Vermont. She has previously worked for Fast Company, the Guardian, News Deeply, Time, and others. Message Michelle on Twitter or at michelle@9to5mac.com. Check out her personal blog.