Solar

First Solar announces plans for fifth U.S. factory

First Solar announces plans for fifth U.S. factory
First Solar's module manufacturing facility in Ohio (Courtesy: First Solar)

First Solar has announced plans to invest $1.1 billion in a fifth U.S. manufacturing facility.

The planned fully vertically integrated facility, the location of which is yet to be determined, is expected to grow the company’s nameplate manufacturing capacity by 3.5 GW to reach approximately 14 GW in the US and 25 GW globally in 2026.

The new facility, which is anticipated to be completed and commissioned in the first half of 2026, will produce First Solar’s Series 7 modules, which are expected to be manufactured with 100% US-made components identified in the current domestic content guidance issued by the US Department of Treasury.

The company estimates that the new facility will add over 700 new jobs.

“This decision is underpinned by robust fundamentals, including an order backlog of approximately 78 gigawatts, the industry’s strongest balance sheet, a repeatable vertically integrated manufacturing template, and a proven technology platform,” said First Solar CEO Mark Widmar.

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First Solar has committed to over $2.8 billion in capital investment and 7.9 GW of additional manufacturing capacity in the US over the past year. The company had previously announced an approximately $1.3 billion investment in a new 3.5 GW manufacturing facility in Alabama and a 0.9 GW expansion of its existing manufacturing footprint in Ohio, both of which are expected to be completed at the end of 2024.

First Solar also previously announced an investment of up to $370 million for a dedicated R&D innovation center in Perrysburg, Ohio, which is expected to be completed in 2024.