Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

First Solar was founded in 1999.

First Solar manufactures solar modules with an advanced semiconductor technology and provides comprehensive PV system solutions. By consistently driving down manufacturing costs, First Solar is creating an affordable and environmentally responsible alternative to fossil-fuel generation.

First Solar is headquartered in Tempe, Arizona and has offices worldwide. First Solar has manufacturing facilities in Perrysburg, Ohio, Frankfurt (Oder), Germany, and Kulim, Malaysia.

First Solar has more than 6,400 global associates.

First Solar's ticker symbol is FSLR.

First Solar's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange.

First Solar's initial public offering was on November 17, 2006.

You can buy shares of First Solar stock through a brokerage firm. First Solar does not have a direct stock purchase plan.

Refer to the most recent form 10-Q or form 10-K in the financial documents archive for a recent count of First Solar's outstanding shares.

Refer to the investor calendar for a tentative schedule of significant First Solar financial dates, including the next earnings release. For information about key industry events First Solar will participate in, visit our events page.

First Solar's fiscal year is a calendar year, ending on December 31st each year.

First Solar originally operated as a Delaware limited liability company from 1999 until 2006. First Solar, Inc. was then incorporated in Delaware on February 22, 2006.

Please refer to the First Solar's SEC filings or press releases for financial documents.

You can quickly assemble your own investor kit by selecting and printing your choice of related documents.

First Solar will provide audio broadcasts and/or replays of conference calls in the investor calendar in the past events section.

ATTN: Investor Relations First Solar, Inc.
350 West Washington Street Suite 600
Tempe, AZ 85281 USA

Information about the annual stockholder meeting and other financial events will be located in the investor calendar.

First Solar provides profiles of its executive management staff in the corporate governance section of the investor website.

Notify our Transfer Agent, Computershare, by phone at 781-575-4238 or by mail at:

P.O. Box 43023
Providence, RI 02940

First Solar Investor Relations can be contacted by telephone at 602-414-9315, by fax at 602-414-9415, or via the Web

We utilize a web-based recruiting system for posting open job positions and managing applicants' resumes for all our global locations. If you are interested in applying for a position at one of our global offices, please visit our careers page. From there, you can search job postings, submit your application, and attach a resume. The information you submit will be sent for consideration to our internal human resources and recruiting department at the appropriate First Solar location.

If you are interested in applying for a position at one of our global manufacturing facilities, please contact the appropriate First Solar location in which you are seeking employment. For factory positions in Perrysburg, Ohio, please contact Manpower at 419-893-4413.

Due to the extremely high volume of applications and resumes we receive, we currently do not provide status updates or notify applicants when a position has been filled.

First Solar currently does not have an official internship program. Please visit our careers page upon completion of your studies to view our open job positions.

Approved First Solar pictures and fact sheets are located on our media/press center.

As part of our commitment to environmental excellence, First Solar looks at all stages of our product's life cycle using two important measurements:

• Carbon footprint - the amount of carbon dioxide emissions emitted over the life cycle of the product
• Energy payback time - the time it takes to generate the same amount of energy it took to produce the system

First Solar systems have the smallest carbon footprint and fastest energy payback time of current PV technologies.

First Solar sells its solar modules to the world's leading solar project developers and system integrators. Please visit our developers and integrators page for a list of companies authorized to sell and support First Solar products. Please contact any of the companies listed for information about First Solar product availability.

Yes, First Solar offers the most cost effective PV solutions for US utilities seeking to meet renewable portfolio standards (RPS) requirements. Please contact our sales and product management team for more information.

First Solar currently does not sell its products through distributors, resellers, or wholesalers.

A database of federal, state, local, and utility incentives and policies promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency can all be found at the website below:

Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency
www.dsireusa.org

First Solar sells its solar modules under long-term module supply contracts with the world's leading solar project developers and system integrators and provides comprehensive PV solutions to US utilities seeking to meet renewable portfolio standards (RPS) requirements. First Solar does not publish a price list for solar modules or PV solutions and does not disclose its pricing structure under long-term module supply contracts.

First Solar modules have been used in BIPV applications in a number of cases, especially in France where the Regulation encourages BIPV applications.

First Solar currently does not offer its module products for low voltage or off-grid photovoltaic applications. We suggest using an industry website to locate a dealer or installer in your area who specializes in these solutions. Company databases can be found in the following languages at the links below:

English 
www.renewableenergyworld.com
www.solarbuzz.com

German
www.solarserver.de
www.solarwirtschaft.de

Spanish
www.asif.org

Italian
www.assosolare.org

French
www.tecsol.fr

First Solar modules are manufactured on rigid glass and are not flexible. The term thin film refers to the amount of semiconductor material used, which is an amount less than the width of a human hair. Contrary to popular belief, most thin film panels are not flexible.

First Solar provides a power output warranty for 25 years subject to terms and conditions and a materials and workmanship warranty for ten years covering defects in materials and workmanship under normal use and service conditions.

First Solar does not utilize perfluorinated gases such as nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) in the production of its solar modules.

No, First Solar panels, like all solar panels, are not subject to the current EU Directive on Waste Electronic Equipment (WEEE), which requires manufacturers of specific products to ensure the collection, recycling, and disposal of their products. A recast of the Directive is currently taking place. An institutional agreement that could include PV modules in the scope could be agreed beginning of 2012 at the earliest.

Solar panels, including First Solar’s panels, are explicitly excluded from the scope of the EU Directive on the Restriction of the Use of Hazardous Substances (RoHS), which restricts the use of any of the six substances^[1] in specific product categories.

^[1] Lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls, and polybrominated diphenyl ether.

Yes. The Council of the European Union (representing the 27 EU Member States), the European Parliament and the European Commission have agreed to include PV modules in the scope of the recast Directive. This Directive is expected to enter into force mid to late 2012.

The Directive is expected to enter into force mid 2012 (upon its publication in the Official Journal of the EU), resulting in a transposition into national law. Expectations are that the transposed Directive will apply to all PV producers sometime in 2014.

There are still elements of the text of the Directive that need to be clarified. According to our current knowledge, it seems that our module collection and recycling program already fulfills the major requirements of legislation. However, we will need to adapt our scheme to comply with administrative requirements, registration and reporting.

The new RoHS Directive (‘RoHS II’) which came into force on the 21st of July 2011 clearly excludes all PV modules from the scope of the Directive [Art. 2 Para. 4(i)]. This exclusion is not limited in time and follows the logic Industry Associations brought forward prior to the adoption of the recast Directive.

The benefits of a continued exclusion clearly outweigh potential costs caused by an exclusion, as the release of harmful substances to the environment from PV panels during production, use and recycling or disposal phase are minor, compared to the benefit the continued and accelerated deployment of PV modules of all types brings in displacing fossil fuel emissions, which are several orders of magnitude higher.

— From June 2008 to June 2009, First Solar experienced a manufacturing excursion that affected less than 4% of total product manufactured during that period. Affected modules showed an initial premature power loss in the field before stabilizing.

— 96% of product manufactured during the excursion period is unaffected by the issue.

— The root cause was identified and corrective action was implemented in the factories in June of 2009.

— First Solar has been working directly with impacted customers to replace affected modules.

— There is no safety risk associated with the excursion. This is not a recall.

— The First Solar standard product warranty covers replacement modules, including outbound shipping costs.

— First Solar stands behind its product: due to the nature of the excursion, some PV power plants may have received some affected modules; First Solar is taking voluntary actions beyond the standard warranty program.

— All product manufactured after June 2009 is unaffected by the issue.

— a replacement is required, the exchange will be coordinated by the First Solar system partner and supported by First Solar’s Technical Customer Service team.

— More information, from PV Magazine

— We are well underway in the examination and replacement of affected modules.

— Our assessment validates that the affected modules represent a very small percentage of the modules produced within the 12 month period from June 2008-June 2009.

— We have made strong progress on global replacements of affected modules. As of October 2011 well more than 1/2 of the affected modules have been conclusively removed from a number of small and large affected sites and we have validated the post-replacement sites are performing as originally expected.

— We expect to conclude the remaining excursion-related claims in 2011.

— November 30, 2010 (extended from September 30,2010) marked the conclusion of the period during which customers could file extended warranty claims related to the excursion modules.

— We are now in the process of validating and verifying those claims. The vast majority (80%) of those claims were filed based simply on the dates of the excursion (June 2008 to June 2009), and not due to any specific issue demonstrated in the field.

— Unfortunately, approximately 30% of the claims submitted prior to November 30, 2010 LACKED sufficient data necessary to evaluate them. In those cases, First Solar and/or one of our partners has contacted the system owner and/or their related installer to obtain the necessary data. First Solar established a completion deadline for the submission of module serial numbers and electricity information of September 30, 2011. Claims not completed by September 30, 2011 have now been closed. First Solar’s standard module performance warranty remains in effect for any modules not claimed under this program.

— As of October 28, 2011, we have completed our evaluation of more than 90%of the submitted claims. Written responses have been mailed to both partners and end customers. We continue processing the remaining completed claims with valid site data. In addition, more than 50% of the sites with affected modules have completed module replacement. The number of accepted claims for affected sites is consistent with our original assessment of the size of the manufacturing excursion.

— Our technical teams continue to benefit from cycles of learning from returned module data. We are refining our identification techniques, which in turn improves our future accuracy rate for recovering affected modules from the field.

— If you have not been contacted and you see signs that your systems may not be performing as expected, please contact your installer / First Solar partner to coordinate the assessment, identification, and replacement of affected modules with First Solar. Please make sure to include all of the information on the attached form as well as provide copies of your electricity production records from the time the system was installed through today.

—If you cannot contact your installer / First Solar partner, please contact First Solar's Technical Customer Service Team directly by completing and sending the attached form to info@firstsolar.com. In order to avoid delays in processing your claim, please make sure to fill in the form completely and also send a copy of your electricity production records from the time the system was installed through today.

— If a replacement is required, the exchange will be coordinated by the First Solar System partner and supported by First Solar’s Technical Customer Service team.

Series 3 has the same form factor, process technology and construction as Series 2. However, it is electrically redesigned with a new cell layout, which lowers its voltage and contributes to higher efficiencies.

Series 3 voltage is >30% lower than Series 2, which allows for up to 50% more modules per string. It also features a new locking connector that makes an audible sound at connection. The connector meets the North America NEC requirement and improves connection reliability everywhere.

Yes, Series 3 relies on the proven thin film CdTe technology of Series 2 with the same deposition and construction processes.

Consistent with the philosophy of Extended Producer Responsibility, First Solar has developed and implemented the industry’s first prefunded Module Collection and Recycling Program. Under this program, anyone in possession of First Solar modules can request collection and recycling at anytime, at no additional cost. First Solar will provide the module owner with the necessary materials, containers, and instructions for packaging and transport. The module owner’s only responsibility is to dismantle and package the modules. First Solar estimates that more than 90% of all collected modules will be recycled into new products.

No. First Solar’s Module Collection and Recycling Program is available at anytime to anyone in possession of First Solar modules.

First Solar has designed its Module Collection and Recycling Program to be robust and independent — regardless of the financial condition of First Solar in the future. When each module is sold, First Solar deposits sufficient funds into custodial accounts in the name of a Trustee to cover estimated future module collection and recycling costs. First Solar deposits funds for 100% of modules sold in a given year. Our collection and recycling program is audited annually by an independent auditor.

First Solar protects the privacy of its associates and does not provide employee contact information to outside parties except for certain legitimate purposes (such as employment verification for a bank or mortgage company).

First Solar fosters a productive work environment and does not forward unsolicited calls or emails to other associates. If you would like to inform First Solar of your company's capabilities, please submit a general information inquiry. You will be notified if your information is forwarded to a specific department or contacted if there is an interest in pursuing this opportunity. Please note that due to the extremely high volume of inquiries we receive, we may not be able to reply to every solicitation.

First Solar completes numerous solar industry surveys and questionnaires throughout the year. To submit your survey or questionnaire to First Solar, please send an email to info@firstsolar.com. Please note that due to the extremely high volume of requests we receive, we may not be able to accommodate your request.

Yes, First Solar participates in various community relations and corporate sponsorship activities and evaluates each opportunity based on First Solar's mission, strategic objectives, and core values. If you would like to inform First Solar of a community relations or corporate sponsorship opportunity, please submit a general information inquiry.

Unfortunately, First Solar is unable to provide assistance to students for research projects. Students are welcome to visit our website at www.firstsolar.com for information about our company and products. The investor section of our website contains First Solar press releases, annual reports, quarterly reports, proxy statements, and event webcasts. We also recommend visiting the following websites for solar industry information:

Energy Information Administration Website for Kids
Website

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Website for Kids
Website

Energy Star Kids
Website

First Solar is currently developing educational programs for teachers that we expect to release in 2010. In the mean time, teachers are welcome to visit our website at firstsolar.com for information about our company and products. The investor section of our website contains First Solar press releases, annual reports, quarterly reports, proxy statements, and event webcasts. We also recommend visiting the following websites for solar industry information:

Energy Information Administration Website for Kids
Website

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Website for Kids
Website

Energy Star Kids
Website

Due to our proprietary technology and manufacturing processes, First Solar does not grant many tour requests. To request a tour of one of our manufacturing facilities, please submit a general information inquiry.

If your question has not been answered on this page, please contact the appropriate First Solar department to submit your inquiry:

Contact Customer Support
Sales & Product Information
Investor Relations
Media & Public Relations
Collection & Recycling
General Information