Responsible by Design.
As global electricity demand accelerates, the conversation about solar has moved beyond performance and cost. Customers, investors, communities, and policymakers are asking where the technology is made, how it is sourced, and whether it strengthens the communities and economies it serves. First Solar's 2026 Corporate Responsibility Report answers those questions with data, third-party validation, and a clear view of Responsible Solar at work.
Responsible Solar
- Domestic manufacturing and transparent supply chains
- Zero tolerance for forced labor
- Lower-impact manufacturing
- Circular recycling leadership
- Lasting economic value for local communities
We believe the way solar technology is made matters as much as the energy it generates. The report highlights how First Solar’s approach to Responsible Solar is built into every step — from material sourcing to product design, manufacturing, and recycling.
American-made. Measurable economic impact.
- The only US-headquartered company among the world's largest solar manufacturers, with a proprietary alternative to Chinese crystalline silicon (c-Si) technology.
- Vertically integrated manufacturing that supports domestic suppliers, jobs, communities, and industrial growth.
- Estimated $5.8B contribution to US GDP in 2025.
- Read the report to see how a solar project in northeast Tennessee is generating critical revenue for one of the most economically distressed counties in the state.
Responsible supply chain. Transparent by design.
- In-house, end-to-end manufacturing ensures transparency and accountability across every stage.
- No Chinese polysilicon. Vetted, traceable sources.
- Zero tolerance for forced labor, across all operations and suppliers.
- Read the report to learn how domestically produced and deployed First Solar modules are powering India’s energy security beyond China-dependent solar supply chains.
Resource-efficient manufacturing. Lower environmental impact.
- 15x less water and up to 50x fewer chemicals and gases than conventional c-Si panel manufacturing.
- 510 million liters of water recycled in 2025 — equivalent to 204 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
- The industry's fastest energy payback time, lowest carbon footprint, and water footprint; energy return on energy invested approximately 2.5x higher than imported c-Si modules.
- Read the report to discover how solar projects in Ohio and Connecticut are turning landfills into long-term community assets.
American Technology. Proven Performance.
- Up to 4% more annual energy output in high humidity, up to 2% more annual energy in hot climates means more lifetime energy.
- Less sensitive to shading and inherently immune to c-Si failure modes.
- Proven safety track record in extreme weather, including major hurricanes and tornado events.
- Read the report to learn how American-made First Solar technology helps an Arkansas school generate $200,000 in annual energy savings.
High-value recycling that keeps materials in use
- 95%+ material recovery, returning valuable materials such as tellurium, steel, and glass to domestic supply chains.
- 20+ years of in-house global PV recycling experience at scale.
- Read the report to see how our industry-leading recycling program keeps industrial value in the loop.
