Project Development and Finance

We have developed one of the largest solar project pipelines in the world (currently nearly 3GW contracted) and have sold our plants to top independent power producers and financial investors in the energy industry. In addition, we have facilitatedthe financing for nearly 2GW (AC) (representing approximately $9 billion) of First Solar power plants in debt and equity financing, including public and private bond markets, the Federal Financing Bank, and financial institutions worldwide, which have a long history supporting First Solar’s bankable technology.

Grid Integration and Plant Control Systems

First Solar offers the most advanced grid integration capability in the PV industry, providing PV plants that actively stabilize the electricity grid and operate more like traditional electricity generation plants. Advanced plant features of our grid integration systems include the ability to regulate voltage, curtail active power when necessary, limit the rate of change of power, prevent trips during faults and disturbances, and react to changes in grid frequency.

PV Modules

Our solar modules are the foundation to the world’s most advanced PV power plants. With a proven performance advantage over crystalline silicon technologies, First Solar’s world-record holding CdTe thin film solar modules deliver higher energy yields at elevated temperatures due to a lower temperature coefficient. Beyond temperatures of 25°C, First Solar modules produce more energy for the same nameplate watts and provide stronger plant performance in high temperature climates.

Learn more about First Solar’s advanced thin film PV modules »

Balance of Systems Components

First Solar has made significant improvements to balance of system components to optimize the entire PV power plant and reduce lifecycle costs. Our proprietary data acquisition, plant control, and mounting systems are just a few examples of plant optimizing technologies that enable us to provide reliable and predictable solar energy, increased energy yields and system availabilities, faster construction velocities, and a lower Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE).

Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC)

Our engineering and construction capabilities are unmatched in the solar industry. We have designed and constructed over 1.5GW of the world’s largest PV power plants and currently have a nearly 3GW contracted pipeline of power plant projects. Our knowledge, experience, and technical excellence ensure every First Solar power plant is optimized for project specific economics and delivered to order, whether directly by First Solar or through a local construction partner.

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Operations and Maintenance (O&M)

By leveraging our experience in plant optimization and maximizing energy output, we have developed the most advanced operations and maintenance program in the PV industry. With over 1.3 GWh of total energy generated from plants under operation to date, First Solar currently operates nearly 20 utility-scale PV power plants with a fleet availability of over 99%. Our advanced O&M offering provides our customers higher energy output and system availability, industry leading PV forecasting, and is backed by a power plant availability guarantee. 

Policy

First Solar is helping to shape renewable energy discussions and policies around the world, leveraging our global experience to share best practices between markets. By actively participating in economic and energy associations and collaborating with regulatory officials around the world, we are currently advancing the regulatory framework for a sustainable solar market.

 
Sustainability

First Solar delivers sustainable energy solutions from an environmental, social, and economic perspective. Our power plants have the smallest carbon footprint and fastest energy payback time in the industry. With over 7GW produced worldwide, we have displaced approximately 4.5 million metric tons of CO₂ emissions, the equivalent of powering approximately 3.5 million homes based on world averages.