Oct 20 2010
First Solar Inc is currently experiencing a growing demand for its refined thin-film PV modules. In order to meet the demand, the company has declared its designs to build two new four-line production facilities with an annual production capability of 500 MW at Vietnam and United States.
The plants are conceived in such a way as to facilitate future expansions and the constructions of the plants are expected to be concluded by the year 2012. Currently the company is in the process of choosing proper construction sites and negotiating with the vendors.
The company had earlier announced capacity augmentations which include eight lines in its Kulim, Malaysia factory, four lines at Frankfurt an der Oder, in Germany and two lines at Blanquefort, France. In the earlier part of this year the company had completed its planned expansion at Perrysburg, Ohio production facility. The Ohio facility currently serves as a hub for First Solar’s research and development activities and about 1000 of its Associates out of the total 1500 plus based in USA are located at the facility. All the announced plant expansions will allow First Solar to nearly double its manufacturing capacity from the present 1.4 GW to 2.7 GW in 2012 and in turn create a number of jobs.
Rob Gillette, CEO of First Solar, said that the capacity augmentations will allow the company to meet the growing demand in USA while supporting the intention of the company to provide cost effective, clean and renewable electric power.