First Solar has announced plans to establish its fifth manufacturing plant in the U.S., although the exact location has not been determined yet. The company will invest $1.1 billion into the new, fully vertically integrated facility, which will grow the company’s manufacturing capacity by 3.5 gigawatts (GW) to reach approximately 14 GW in the U.S. First Solar’s Series 7 modules will be produced at the new plant, which is expected to be operational in 2026, and will generate 700 new jobs.
In a recent quote, Mark Widmar, chief executive officer of First Solar, said, “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. With this investment, we continue to help deliver on the promise of the Inflation Reduction Act, which is to create enduring value for our country. By expanding America’s solar manufacturing base, and the value chains that support it, we are working to ensure that the US enters the next decade in a position of strength, fully capable of producing the technology it needs to complete its transition to a sustainable energy future.”
Investing in American Manufacturing - 2023
This map shows where manufacturers are choosing to invest their resources, whether they are building new production facilities or expanding existing plants.