First Solar has revealed its intentions to construct a fifth solar module manufacturing facility in the United States, with an investment of up to $1.1 billion. The anticipated completion and commissioning of the new facility are set for the first half of 2026. This facility will produce First Solar’s Series 7 modules, which are projected to be manufactured using components entirely sourced from the US, in accordance with the current domestic content guidelines issued by the US Department of Treasury.
The specific site has not been finalized yet, but it is projected to increase the company’s manufacturing capacity by 3.5 GW. With this addition, First Solar’s total capacity in the U.S. is expected to reach around 14 GW, and globally to 25 GW by 2026.
First Solar stands as the foremost fully integrated solar manufacturer in the Western Hemisphere, boasting an operational capacity of 6.3 GW in the US. With the completion and scaling of the new factory, First Solar foresees that Series 7 modules will represent over two-thirds of its annual domestic nameplate capacity. These Series 7 modules, presently crafted at the company’s Ohio facility, already incorporate US-made glass and steel in their production process.
Mark Widmar, CEO of First Solar, stated, “This choice is supported by solid foundations, such as an order backlog of around 78 gigawatts, the most robust balance sheet in the industry, a reliable vertically integrated manufacturing model, and a proven technological platform.”
In the past year, along with this declaration, First Solar has pledged more than $2.8 billion towards capital investments and 7.9 GW of extra manufacturing capacity in the US. Prior to this, the company had revealed investments totaling around $1.3 billion for a new 3.5 GW manufacturing plant in Alabama and a 0.9 GW extension of its current manufacturing setup in Ohio, both slated for completion by the end of 2024.
First Solar had also previously disclosed an investment of up to $370 million for a specialized R&D innovation center in Perrysburg, Ohio, projected to be finalized by 2024.
