First Solar plans to invest over $1bn in scaling production of US-made thin film solar modules, supporting the country’s energy decarbonisation efforts.
The investment is forecast to expand the company’s ability to produce American-made solar modules for the US solar market to over 10GW (dc) by 2025.
As part of its push to scale US production of solar modules, First Solar intends to build its fourth, fully vertically integrated domestic factory, with an annual capacity of 3.5GW (dc), in the US south-east.
First Solar, the only US-headquartered company among the world’s 10 largest PV manufacturers, expects to invest up to $1bn in the new factory, which, contingent upon permitting and pending approval of various federal, state, regional, and local incentives, is expected to commence operations in 2025.
Additionally, the company will invest $185m in upgrading and expanding its north-west Ohio manufacturing footprint, which is the largest vertically-integrated complex of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, by 900MW (dc).
As part of its plans, First Solar will invest in expanding the capacity of its two operating facilities in Perrysburg and Lake Township, Ohio, by 600MW (dc) to 3.6GW (dc) of annual Series 6 module capacity.
The company will also expand its third Ohio factory, expected to be commissioned in the first half of 2023, to 3.5GW (dc) of annual Series 7 module capacity.
The expansion will increase First Solar’s total investment in its Ohio manufacturing facilities to over $3bn, with a cumulative annual production capacity of over 7GW (dc) by 2025.
First Solar estimates that the new investment will add at least 850 new manufacturing jobs, taking its total number of direct jobs in the US to over 3000 people in four states by 2025, which is believed to make it the largest employer in the American solar manufacturing sector.
By 2025, First Solar is also expected to support an estimated 15,000 indirect and induced jobs as a result of its ongoing and future manufacturing operations.
“In passing the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, Congress and the Biden-Harris Administration has entrusted our industry with the responsibility of enabling America’s clean energy future and we must meet the moment in a manner that is both timely and sustainable,” said Mark Widmar, chief executive officer, First Solar.