First Solar has Finalized Multi-Year Supply Agreement with Leeward Renewable Energy
First Solar has announced a multi-year framework supply agreement with Leeward Renewable Energy (LRE). In this agreement, First Solar will provide LRE with 1 GWdc of its ultra-low carbon thin-film photovoltaic (PV) solar modules. LRE will deploy these modules across its 20 GW solar development and construction pipeline in the U.S. over 2023 and 2024.
First Solar has been innovating the PV and solar cell industry for decades, achieving incredible energy yields, lower LCOE, and stable grid integrations. With R&D centers in Ohio and California, First Solar’s thin film PV modules have a carbon footprint that is 2.5 times lower and a water footprint that is three times lower than the average crystalline silicon solar panel made with cells produced in China.
“Sophisticated project developers such as LRE are looking to secure their development portfolios by partnering with a module supply partner that offers a reliable, clean energy solution with a long-term agreement structure,” said Georges Antoun, chief commercial officer at First Solar.
The company intends to invest $680 million to expand America’s domestic PV solar manufacturing capacity by 3.3 GW annually. The first step to this is the opening of its third US manufacturing facility in Lake Township, Ohio. The new facility is expected to be commissioned in the first half of 2023 and when fully operational will scale the company’s Northwest Ohio footprint to a total annual capacity of 6 GW, which is believed to make it the largest fully vertically integrated solar manufacturing complex outside of China.
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