First Solar Analyst Day: Next major production capacity expansion in 2015

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

First Solar is planning its next major CdTe thin-film production capacity expansion phase to occur in 2015 with an additional 1GW of nameplate capacity. The company revealed the plans during its 2014 Analyst Day event.

CdTe nameplate capacity will remain at 1.8GW in 2014, excluding the 100MW TetraSun production plant currently under construction. During its Analyst Day event, management noted that capacity utilisation rates would increase in the second-half of the year from its existing lines to reach full-capacity at all 24 lines in Malaysia. Production would therefore equate to around 2GW.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

Effectively, First Solar is only adding around 200MW of new capacity in 2015, although that additional new capacity rate would steadily increase to around 400MW in 2016, around 700MW in 2017 and around the same level of new capacity again in 2018.

The company highlighted that installed manufacturing capacity would therefore continue to increase through 2018, reaching around 3.5GW of CdTe thin-film production.

Line run-rates

First Solar said that it planned a step-function increase in manufacturing line run-rate through 2018. The company has spent nearly two years upgrading existing lines to improve module efficiencies and throughput, which resulted in each line achieving an average run-rate of 79MW and a US$0.63/W cost. By 2018, line run-rates could be well over 120MW, according to the company.

Split lines

A new development was the possibility of further reducing the capital cost of adding new lines, a key area of concern for thin-film technologies compared to conventional c-Si technologies.

First Solar noted that it could achieve a lower capex cost-per-watt with reduced installation and ramp times. However, the company highlighted the ability to split module/cell deposition processes (all under vacuum conditions) and then have the glass/glass modules final assembly and test undertaken separately and possibly at different locations. The company noted that the split line system was the lowest capex cost-per-watt idea.

Capex & guidance

The company said in guidance statement issued during the Analyst Day event that it expected capital expenditures in 2014 to be in the range of US$300 to US$350 million, up from US$282.6 million in 2013. 

First Solar guided net sales of US$3.7 billion to US$4.0 billion for 2014, up from US$3.3 billion in 2013.

Read Next

July 2, 2025
Indigenous-led renewable energy company Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation (YEC) has submitted plans for a hybrid wind and solar PV renewable energy project to the Australian government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.
July 2, 2025
Robotics company Luminous has received AU$4.9 million (US$3.2 million) via Australia’s Solar ScaleUp Challenge to support deploying its ‘LUMI’ technology at utility-scale solar PV power plants.
July 1, 2025
Spanish independent power producer (IPP) Zelestra has secured financing and reached financial close for its 220MW solar-plus-storage plant in Chile.
July 1, 2025
Independent power producer (IPP) Arevon Energy has closed a US$600 million credit facility to support its solar PV and energy storage portfolio in the US.
July 1, 2025
The UK government has released this week (30 June) its Solar Roadmap, which sets out practical measures to meet the country’s solar PV targets.
July 1, 2025
Solar developer ib vogt has sold a 110MW solar PV plant in Spain to international fund NextPower V ESG, which is operated by investment firm NextEnergy Capital (NEC).

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Media Partners, Solar Media Events
July 2, 2025
Bangkok, Thailand
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 2, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 22, 2025
Bilbao, Spain
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA