first solar

First Solar has entered into a framework agreement with a subsidiary of Silicon Ranch, one of the US’ leading solar project developers, to supply 230MW worth of modules for future projects.

Leading thin-film producer First Solar is planning a major revamp of its next-generation CdTe modules by introducing a new suite of production lines capable of producing large-area (1.2m x 1.8m) ‘Series 6’ modules with 400W output and significantly lower production costs currently achievable with its smaller form factor modules.

8point3 Energy Partners, the yieldco company formed by SunPower and First Solar, has signed agreements to acquire interest in the 50MW Hooper Project from SunPower and the 40MW Kingbird Project from First Solar.

Pension fund, The California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS), has agreed to purchase a 25% stake in Desert Sunlight Investment Holdings, the owner of two major solar PV projects with a combined capacity of 550MW near Palm Springs, California.

The Southern Company has acquired a 120MW project in Texas currently being built by First Solar.

The incumbent energy industry must play its part in developing the energy transition instead of “protecting the past”, SolarPower Europe’s president Oliver Schaefer has said.

Swiss developer HopSol has selected First Solar modules for a 5MW project in Namibia, south-west Africa.

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruling in favour of the US on its complaint against India’s localisation rules for solar equipment, does “not affect the future course of action” that India is considering, Tarun Kapoor, joint secretary of India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has told PV Tech.

The recent extension to the US investment tax credit (ITC) could enable First Solar to shift emphasis and therefore revenue generation to selling its CdTe thin-film modules to third parties rather than directly to PV power plant projects, according to a research note from Deutsche Bank analyst, Vishal Shah.

If you want to understand the strength of the case for solar in Saudi Arabia, examining the country's peak load is a good place to start. First Solar's Osama al Othman explains why the country's power problems are ripe for a solar solution.