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First Solar Corporation (NASDAQ:FSLR), a U.S. leader in photovoltaic solutions, recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for a manufacturing facility in Iberia Parish, Louisiana. Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards and state dignitaries attended the groundbreaking ceremony, which marked an important milestone in the company’s mission to strengthen U.S. PV module capacity.
First Solar’s construction of this manufacturing plant brings a $1.1 billion investment to the state, making it the largest single investment in the state’s history. The plant is the fifth fully vertically integrated manufacturing facility operated by First Solar in the U.S. and will play a key role in expanding U.S.-based PV module capacity. The plant is expected to begin commercial operations in the first half of 2026 and is projected to reach an annual capacity of 3.5GW by 2026, bringing First Solar’s annual U.S.-manufactured PV module production capacity to 14GW and its global annual production capacity to 25GW.
Upon completion, the fully vertically integrated manufacturing facility will occupy 2 million square feet. Designed with cutting-edge technology, the plant is capable of manufacturing PV glass into Series 7 PV modules in 4.5 hours, producing up to 12 PV modules per minute.Just as fast as the photovoltaic modules we make at Wanhos.
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards said at the groundbreaking ceremony, “Today is a historic day for the state of Louisiana and Iberia Parish, and we are pleased with this record investment and the hundreds of good-paying jobs that will be created. first Solar’s choice of this location to manufacture photovoltaic modules solidifies Louisiana’s leadership in the global energy transition. Thanks to all who worked hard to make this day a reality, we welcome First Solar’s plant to Louisiana.”
First Solar’s commitment to Louisiana is expected to create more than 700 manufacturing jobs in the state. Already the largest employer in the U.S. PV manufacturing industry, the company employs more than 2,500 people stateside and expects to have more than 4,000 employees in the U.S. by 2026.
Mark Widmar, CEO of First Solar, proudly stated, “As a U.S.-based manufacturer of photovoltaic modules, we are excited to make Louisiana the largest photovoltaic manufacturing site in the Western Hemisphere. This facility, like the manufacturing plants we operate in Ohio and Alabama, represents First Solar’s investment in America’s future. We are creating lasting value for the United States by building a strong PV manufacturing base and the PV value chain that makes it possible. Providing more jobs and economic value and laying the foundation the U.S. needs to access PV supply for the next decade.”
In a strategic initiative aligned with its vision for the future, First Solar is embarking on a $4.1 billion manufacturing expansion strategy in 2020. This initiative allows the company to jump from approximately 6GW of annual global capacity in 2020 to an impressive 13GW today. in addition, the company is expected to add 12GW of annual capacity at its manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and India between the second half of 2023 and 2026.
In addition to breaking ground on this manufacturing facility in Louisiana, First Solar recently opened operations at the company’s third facility in Ohio earlier this year and expects to open a manufacturing facility currently under construction in Alabama and expand its existing manufacturing in Ohio in 2024. The company also expects its manufacturing facility in India to begin commercial operations in the fourth quarter of this year. As part of its forward-looking strategy, the company is investing $370 million in a research and innovation center being built in Fort Perry, Ohio, which is expected to be completed next year.