First Solar has secured a 500MW (dc) thin film photovoltaic (PV) module order from French renewables developer for projects in the US and Europe.
Under the agreement, First Solar will supply 200MW (dc) of its thin-film solar modules for a utility-scale project being developed by Akuo in the United States, with delivery scheduled for the first half of 2024.
The remaining modules are expected to be delivered in 2025 and 2026, for projects Akuo is developing in Europe and other markets.
Akuo ended 2021 with 1.4GW of assets in operation or under construction and a project development pipeline of over 7GW.
The deal, which leverages First Solar’s agile contracting approach, allows Akuo to benefit from the evolution of First Solar’s advanced cadmium telluride (CadTel) thin film module technology platform over the span of the agreement, said First Solar.
“The solar industry operates against a backdrop of volatility and uncertainty, and this agreement is part of a broader effort to reduce the long-term supply risks of our global portfolio to actually deliver our projects,” said Eric Scotto, chief executive officer, Akuo.
“First Solar’s ability to provide supply chain traceability and its commitment to responsible manufacturing was crucial to us,” he added.
Scotto referred to the first Solar’s history of establishing benchmarks in supply chain transparency and the low environmental footprint of its technology.
“As a European player, we are strongly committed to these values echoing our ambition for the planet,” he said.
First Solar also operates a recycling programme which recovers approximately 90% of CadTel semiconductor material which can be used to manufacture new modules, as well as other materials including aluminium, glass, and laminates.
The company operates commercial recycling facilities in the US, Germany, Malaysia, and Vietnam.
Additionally, First Solar is the only company among the 10 largest solar manufacturers globally to be a member of the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA), the world’s largest industry coalition dedicated to supporting the rights and well-being of workers and communities in the global supply chain.
“We’re pleased to welcome Akuo to a growing number of long-term strategic partnerships with experienced global developers that have placed their trust in First Solar and our technology,” said Georges Antoun, chief commercial officer, First Solar.
In addition to its Ohio manufacturing facilities, First Solar also operates factories in Vietnam and Malaysia, and is building a new 3.3GW factory in India that is expected to be commissioned in the second half of 2023.
With First Solar’s expansion in the United States and India and optimisation of its existing fleet, the company expects to double its nameplate manufacturing capacity to 16GW in 2024.