Clean, Sustainable, Energy Independence

First Solar is focused on providing value-driven energy solutions that protect and enhance the environment. By harnessing the abundant natural resource of the sun, solar power generation provides a renewable, clean source of energy. By considerably reducing fossil fuel dependence and greenhouse gas emissions, solar energy is a sustainable solution to meeting the long-term energy requirements of our global society. However, producing a product that is inherently good for the environment is one thing, but First Solar takes environmental responsibility a step further. First Solar believes it is important to understand both the direct and indirect impacts of its product on the environment throughout the product’s entire life cycle, from raw material sourcing through product collection and recycling.

On a life cycle basis, systems using First Solar modules have the lowest carbon footprint and fastest energy payback time—the amount of time a system must operate to recover the energy that was required to produce it in the first place—of any other photovoltaic (PV) technology. And because we have the fastest energy payback time, less than one year, our product can support rapid scalability of our solar technology.

Environmental Mission

 
First Solar, through our product and our operations, provides superior environmental benefits while ensuring the health and safety of our associates, customers, and the communities in which we operate. We are accomplishing this by:

• Providing a cost-effective solar energy solution that displaces conventional fossil fuel technologies
• Practicing the environmental philosophies of extended producer responsibility and product life cycle management, which take into account the environmental impact of our products from raw material sourcing through collection and recycling
• Striving for continuous improvement in our environmental, health, and safety management systems, and in the environmental quality of our products, processes, and services