first solar

US solar manufacturer First Solar has opened its new research and development (R&D) centre in Ohio after almost two years of construction.

The first full year of IRA in the US has seen a flurry of transactions completed as solar developers and now manufacturers take advantage.

The US Department of Energy (DOE) will invest US$71 million into specific solar manufacturing projects across the value chain.

Of the total production volume, the company’s Series 6 modules accounted for 2.4GW, with the remaining production being the Series 7 modules. 

First Solar will supply 170MW of Series 6 Plus bifacial modules and 287MW of Series 7 modules to MN8's projects in the US.

Under the agreement, First Solar will supply its Series 6 Plus bifacial thin-film PV modules to the St. Louis-based company. 

A group of US-based solar manufacturers have filed an antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) petition to the US Department of Commerce (DOC) and International Trade Commission (ITC).

PV Tech Premium speaks with Crux about the interest in the 45X credit market in the US, including First Solar's deal made late last year.

Longroad Energy has achieved financial close on a solar PV and battery storage project in Arizona, on which construction is already underway.

First Solar CEO Mark Widmar has said that the US solar manufacturing industry “remains in a precarious position, despite the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)”.