First Solar Inc has inaugurated its latest manufacturing facility in Lawrence County, Alabama, marking a significant step in its expansion across the US.
The new factory, built with an investment of $1.1 billion, will produce 3.5 GW of solar modules annually, increasing First Solar's domestic manufacturing capacity to nearly 11 GW, alongside its three other plants in Ohio.
“This energy technology manufacturing facility produces American solar panels, with American-made components sourced from a supply chain that spans the country,” said Mark Widmar, CEO of First Solar.
The Alabama facility, which will create over 800 new jobs, will produce Series 7 modules using steel fabricated within a 25-mile radius.
First Solar aims to grow its US capacity to 14 GW by the end of 2026, with another 3.5-GW plant currently under construction in Louisiana. Globally, the company is targeting 25 GW of nameplate capacity by 2026.
