SB Energy Global, a subsidiary of SoftBank Group, has placed a multi-year order for 1500MW of First Solar’s advanced, ultra-low carbon thin-film photovoltaic solar modules.
SB Energy will deploy these modules across its 4GW solar and storage development pipeline in the US.
This order follows SB Energy’s original procurement of 1.7GW of First Solar modules for five utility-scale projects in Texas and California, which began construction in 2020.
These expand SB Energy and First Solar’s partnership to a cumulative 3.2GW of US solar projects.
SB Energy’s team has reached commercial operations on 1.3GW across projects in Texas and California in the last six months, bringing enough reliable, clean energy online to power over a quarter million homes
The projects have also supported over 10,000 jobs, including 3,000 direct jobs during construction.
The remaining 0.4GW of projects from the original 1.7GW procurement are expected to reach commercial operations in the first half of 2022.
SB Energy co-chief executive Abhijeet Sathe said: “Providing flexible, renewable energy at scale is central to SB Energy’s mission to accelerate the clean energy transition.
“First Solar’s partnership and the incredible work of our team enabled us to bring 1.3GW of new solar projects to commercial operations in 2021, making us the second largest in terms of new solar capacity added to the grid.
“We’re excited to expand our partnership with First Solar as we enter our next phase of growth and continue to develop cutting-edge climate infrastructure and technology solutions.”
First Solar chief commercial officer Georges Antoun said: “At First Solar, we value long-term relationships based not simply on our ability to deliver a competitive, high-quality product that is a hedge against pricing and supply volatility but on trust and a shared vision.
“We thank SB Energy for its trust in our technology and for investing in responsibly-produced American solar as they grow their platform in support of our country’s march towards a sustainable energy future.”
All 1.5GW of the modules in the order will be produced in First Solar’s Ohio manufacturing plant and support SB Energy’s plans to achieve 10GW of renewable energy and storage projects in operation or under construction by the end of 2025.