First Solar, a US-based solar technology company, has announced a new agreement with Leeward Renewable Energy (LRE) to supply 2 GWDC of thin film photovoltaic (PV) solar modules. The agreement builds on LRE's existing relationship with First Solar and is expected to take the company's total fleet of First Solar modules to almost 6 GWDC by 2028.
Designed and developed at its R&D centres in California and Ohio, First Solar's advanced thin film PV modules set industry benchmarks for quality, durability, reliability, design, and environmental performance. The modules have the lowest carbon and water footprint of any commercially available PV technology today.
First Solar is the only company among the 10 largest solar manufacturers globally that is 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. The company is also the first PV manufacturer to have its product included in the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) global registry for sustainable electronics.
“We look forward to expanding our long-standing partnership with First Solar, which is consistent with our high-growth strategy as we continue to expand our renewable energy portfolio in the US, prioritising sustainable and responsible development,” said Jason Allen, CEO, LRE.
Through this partnership, LRE's solar portfolio champions US manufacturing, fortifying the US solar module supply chain and supporting the creation of new American jobs.
First Solar is expanding its US manufacturing footprint, which currently stands at approximately 6 GW of annual nameplate capacity with three operating factories in Ohio. The company is expected to reach more than 10 GW of annual nameplate capacity in the US by 2025, when it is scheduled to complete its new US$1.1 billion factory in Alabama and a US$185 million expansion of its existing capacity in Ohio. First Solar is also investing up to US$370 million in a new research and development innovation centre in Ohio.
“In partnering with First Solar, LRE is part of a group of sophisticated solar project developers that have recognised the value of strategic procurement, which optimises the competitiveness of solar projects, while minimising pricing, supply, and compliance risk,” said Georges Antoun, Chief Commercial Officer, First Solar.
First Solar's differentiated thin film semiconductor, integrated manufacturing process and tightly controlled supply chain helps eliminate the risk of exposure to solar supply chains identified by the US Department of Labor's 2022 List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor as being tainted by forced labour.
This latest agreement is a significant step towards a more sustainable and responsible approach to solar energy. By prioritising responsible development and US manufacturing, First Solar and LRE are working together to create a brighter, cleaner, and more ethical future for the energy industry.
