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First Solar

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An American solar-technology company specializing in cadmium-telluride thin-film photovoltaic modules and utility-scale solar solutions.

Last updated October 14, 2026

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Overview

First Solar is a United States-based solar technology company that manufactures rigid thin-film photovoltaic modules and participates in the development and delivery of utility-scale solar power systems. Its principal technology uses cadmium telluride (CdTe) as the semiconductor rather than the crystalline silicon used in most conventional modules. The company also provides services associated with large photovoltaic projects, including project development, engineering, procurement and construction coordination, financing support, operations, maintenance and system-related services. The business traces its technological roots to Harold McMaster, an inventor and entrepreneur who founded Glasstech Solar in 1984 and later established Solar Cells, Inc. in 1990 after shifting his research focus from amorphous silicon to CdTe. Solar Cells, Inc. was acquired in 1999 by True North Partners, an investment firm led by Michael Ahearn, and was reorganized and rebranded as First Solar. Commercial module production began in Perrysburg, Ohio, in 2002. The company became publicly traded in 2006 on the NASDAQ under the symbol FSLR. First Solar initially benefited from strong European renewable-energy incentives, especially Germany's feed-in-tariff regime. As subsidy conditions weakened in Germany, France, Italy and Spain, the company broadened its geographical reach and changed its commercial emphasis. From the early 2010s it moved away from markets dependent on residential or heavily subsidized demand and increasingly focused on utility-scale generation in markets where solar could compete on system economics, energy security and long-term power demand. The company's manufacturing model is vertically integrated: its facilities transform glass and semiconductor material into finished modules through a continuous production process. First Solar has promoted CdTe technology for its comparatively favorable temperature behavior, spectral response, shading performance, degradation characteristics and resource footprint. It has also emphasized the technology's lower semiconductor-material requirement and potential advantages in carbon footprint, water use and energy payback relative to conventional silicon manufacturing. Research conducted with the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory has supported further improvements in CdTe efficiency. First Solar expanded production through facilities in Germany and Malaysia during the 2000s, followed by manufacturing operations in Vietnam, India and the United States. German production was later closed, while additional U.S. capacity was commissioned in Ohio, Alabama and Louisiana. The company reported approximately 14 gigawatts of annual domestic nameplate capacity as of March 2026 in the supplied reference material. Series 6 and Series 7 families represent its principal large-format module platforms, with Series 7 TR1 identified as its top-efficiency product in the cited material. The company has also supplied modules for or participated in major utility-scale projects in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Australia and other regions. Examples include the Copper Mountain, Topaz, Desert Sunlight and Agua Caliente projects in the United States; the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in the United Arab Emirates; and projects in Germany, Israel, Italy and Australia. First Solar's strategy combines module manufacturing with a focus on large projects rather than a primary emphasis on rooftop consumer sales. Its history includes periods of rapid expansion and contraction. In 2012, weaker demand and market volatility led to a global restructuring, including the closure of German operations, idling of Malaysian production lines and substantial workforce reductions. Mark Widmar, previously the company's chief financial officer, became chief executive officer in July 2016, succeeding James Hughes. In 2023, First Solar acquired European perovskite-technology company Evolar for a reported $38 million, seeking to complement its CdTe platform with next-generation tandem and perovskite research. The company has also drawn scrutiny over its relationship with U.S. industrial policy and over a 2024 disclosure concerning forced labor found through an audit at a Malaysian facility producing components for the company.

History

First Solar developed from Harold McMaster's work on thin-film solar technology. McMaster founded Glasstech Solar in 1984 and later created Solar Cells, Inc. in 1990. After initially investigating amorphous silicon, the company moved toward cadmium telluride, a thin-film semiconductor that became the technological foundation of First Solar's module platform. In February 1999, Solar Cells, Inc. was acquired by True North Partners, an investment firm led by Michael Ahearn. The acquired business was reorganized as First Solar, LLC and subsequently became First Solar, Inc. Commercial production began in Perrysburg, Ohio, in 2002. During the 2000s, the company expanded manufacturing into Germany and Malaysia and benefited from demand created by European renewable-energy support programs, particularly Germany's Renewable Energy Sources Act. First Solar completed its initial public offering in 2006 and began trading on NASDAQ as FSLR. The company grew rapidly as CdTe modules became increasingly competitive with crystalline-silicon products. By 2009 it had surpassed a one-gigawatt annual production rate and reported manufacturing costs below one dollar per watt. It also became a significant supplier for large solar farms and participated in projects across Europe, North America, the Middle East and Australia. Its project portfolio included the Topaz Solar Farm, Desert Sunlight Solar Farm, Copper Mountain Solar Facility, Agua Caliente Solar Project and installations in Germany, Israel, Italy and Australia. Changing subsidy conditions created a strategic turning point. As European feed-in tariffs declined or became less predictable, First Solar reduced its dependence on Germany and other incentive-driven markets. In 2010 it formed a utility systems business group, and from 2011 it increasingly targeted utility-scale solar in markets with durable electricity demand rather than relying principally on rooftop markets or short-term subsidies. In April 2012, the company announced a worldwide restructuring in response to market volatility and reduced demand. It phased out operations in Frankfurt (Oder), Germany, idled four production lines in Kulim, Malaysia, and reduced its workforce by roughly 30 percent. The restructuring demonstrated the pressure that rapid module-price declines and changes in government support placed on solar manufacturers. First Solar continued to develop its manufacturing footprint. It commissioned a Vietnam facility in 2018, expanded Ohio production through facilities commissioned in 2019 and 2023, and added production in India in 2024, Alabama in 2024 and Louisiana in 2025. The company also maintained its emphasis on vertically integrated CdTe manufacturing, which allows control over much of the conversion of glass and semiconductor materials into finished modules. Mark Widmar became chief executive officer on July 1, 2016, succeeding James Hughes. In the 2020s, U.S. industrial policy became increasingly important to the company's strategy and economics. The Inflation Reduction Act supported domestic clean-energy manufacturing, and First Solar was described in the supplied material as a major beneficiary of the law's manufacturing incentives. In February 2025, the company sold transferable tax credits generated by its U.S. manufacturing operations. In May 2023, First Solar acquired Evolar, a European company focused on perovskite technology. The transaction was intended to broaden the company's research base and support future high-efficiency module architectures. First Solar has also faced reputational and supply-chain scrutiny. In 2024 it communicated that an audit had found forced labor at a Malaysian factory producing components for the company. The disclosure became a significant labor-governance issue for the brand. First Solar's present identity is therefore built around three linked activities: manufacturing CdTe thin-film modules, expanding geographically distributed production capacity, and supplying utility-scale solar developers and power-system owners. Its differentiation rests on thin-film performance characteristics, lifecycle and resource-efficiency claims, domestic manufacturing and long-term participation in large photovoltaic projects.

  • 2025

    Louisiana manufacturing facility commissioned

    [1]

    A new First Solar manufacturing facility was commissioned in New Iberia, Louisiana.

  • 2024

    India, Alabama and labor-governance developments

    [1]

    The company expanded production in India and Alabama and disclosed an audit finding involving forced labor at a Malaysian component-producing facility.

  • 2023

    Evolar acquisition

    [1]

    First Solar acquired Evolar to expand its perovskite and next-generation photovoltaic technology capabilities.

  • 2016

    Mark Widmar becomes CEO

    [1]

    Mark Widmar succeeded James Hughes as chief executive officer.

  • 2012

    Worldwide restructuring

    [1]

    The company closed German operations, idled Malaysian lines and reduced its workforce in response to weak and volatile market conditions.

  • 2010

    Utility systems business is formed

    [1]

    First Solar created a business group dedicated to large-scale photovoltaic systems.

  • 2009

    One-gigawatt production scale and sub-dollar manufacturing cost

    [1]

    The company surpassed a one-gigawatt production rate and reported manufacturing cost below one dollar per watt.

  • 2006

    NASDAQ listing

    [1]

    First Solar became a publicly traded company under the symbol FSLR.

  • 2002

    Commercial production begins in Ohio

    [1]

    First Solar began commercial module production at its Perrysburg, Ohio facility.

  • 1999

    Solar Cells, Inc. is acquired and renamed

    [1]

    True North Partners acquired Solar Cells, Inc. and formed the First Solar business.

Products and positioning

A vertically integrated, technology-led supplier focused on utility-scale solar, differentiated by CdTe thin-film modules, domestic manufacturing capacity and lifecycle sustainability claims.

  • Thin-film photovoltaic modules

    Series 6

    Series 6 is First Solar's large-format cadmium-telluride module family for utility-scale solar projects. The platform is designed for high-throughput installation and large power-plant layouts, while retaining the company's thin-film characteristics in temperature response, spectral response, shading behavior and degradation. It is primarily aimed at professional project developers, independent power producers and system integrators rather than consumer rooftop buyers.

  • Thin-film photovoltaic modules

    Series 7

    Series 7 is a later large-format CdTe module platform manufactured through First Solar's vertically integrated production system. It is intended for utility-scale deployment and is associated with improved manufacturing scale, installation efficiency and system-level economics. The range reflects First Solar's strategy of using domestic and international factories to supply large solar projects with standardized modules.

  • Thin-film photovoltaic modules

    Series 7 TR1

    Series 7 TR1 is a high-efficiency member of the Series 7 family. The supplied reference material identifies it as reaching up to 19.7 percent efficiency, making it the highest-efficiency module in the cited First Solar lineup. Its principal market is utility-scale photovoltaic generation.

  • Solar power systems and services · 2010

    Utility-scale photovoltaic systems

    First Solar's systems business supports large photovoltaic installations through project development, engineering and delivery activities, with associated financing, operations and maintenance services. The company has supplied or participated in projects ranging from tens to hundreds of megawatts across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Australia.

Controversies

  • 2024

    Forced-labor finding at Malaysian component facility

    First Solar communicated that an audit had identified the use of forced labor at a Malaysian factory producing parts for the company. The issue raised supply-chain due-diligence and labor-governance concerns.

    Source

  • 2022

    Political scrutiny surrounding U.S. clean-energy incentives

    The company attracted political and media scrutiny after executives and lobbyists met with administration officials involved in environmental provisions later associated with the Inflation Reduction Act. The supplied material also noted political-donor connections involving investors, but does not establish wrongdoing by First Solar.

    Source

Read more

Brand decisions

  • 2023

    Acquire EvolarM&A

    Background

    First Solar sought to broaden its technology pipeline beyond its established CdTe platform.

    Action taken

    The company acquired European perovskite-technology business Evolar.

    Aftermath

    The acquisition expanded First Solar's research and development capabilities in perovskite and potential tandem photovoltaic technologies.

    Reported transaction value. $38 million (May 2023)

    Source

  • 2012

    Worldwide restructuringStrategy

    Background

    Market volatility and reduced demand made the prior global manufacturing footprint too large for reliable demand levels.

    Action taken

    First Solar phased out Frankfurt operations, idled four Kulim production lines and reduced its workforce by approximately 30 percent.

    Aftermath

    The company resized operations and continued moving toward a more selective utility-scale business model.

    Source

  • 2011

    Shift toward less subsidy-dependent marketsStrategy

    Background

    European subsidy reductions and uncertainty weakened several of the company's established markets.

    Action taken

    First Solar reduced its emphasis on heavily subsidized markets and rooftop demand and prioritized utility-scale projects in markets with more durable electricity needs.

    Aftermath

    The company expanded its focus on the United States, India, China and other utility-scale markets.

    Source

  • 2010

    Build a utility-systems businessStrategy

    Background

    The company sought to address the large-scale photovoltaic market rather than rely solely on module sales.

    Action taken

    First Solar formed a utility systems business group to support large solar projects.

    Aftermath

    Utility-scale systems became a central focus of the company's commercial strategy.

    Source

Recent events

  • Reported

    First Solar cuts full-year sales-volume forecast[2]

    First Solar reduced its full-year forecast for volume sold to between 16.0 GW and 17.0 GW amid a slowdown in sales.

  • Unconfirmed

    Reported

    First Solar opens South Carolina module facility[3]

    First Solar opened a solar module facility in Gaffney, South Carolina, inaugurating the first phase of production at a plant slated to become a 3.4 GW facility.

  • Reported

    Terabase Energy announces agreement to acquire PlantPredict[4]

    Terabase Energy announced that it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire PlantPredict, a solar energy modeling tool, from First Solar. The transaction was expected to close in October 2021.

  • Reported

    First Solar appoints Anita Marangoly George to its board[5]

    First Solar appointed Anita Marangoly George to its board of directors, effective July 15, 2021. She will serve on the Nominating and Governance, and Technology Committees.

  • First Solar launches Series 6 CuRe PV modules[6]

    First Solar said it had launched its newly developed Series 6 CuRe next-generation photovoltaic technology, which it says has a warranted degradation rate of 0.2% per year.

  • Reported

    Longroad announces acquisition of Sun Streams 2, 4 and 5 from First Solar[7]

    Longroad Energy announced the signing of its acquisition of the Sun Streams 2, 4 and 5 solar projects from First Solar. The closings for Sun Streams 4 and 5 were subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

  • Reported

    Longroad closes acquisition of Sun Streams 2[7]

    Longroad Energy closed its acquisition of the Sun Streams 2 solar project from First Solar. The article separately reports that acquisitions of Sun Streams 4 and 5 remained subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

  • Reported

    Goldman Sachs Renewable Power acquires American Kings Solar project[8]

    Goldman Sachs Renewable Power acquired the 123-megawatt American Kings Solar project from First Solar in a transaction that closed at the end of June 2020.

  • Reported

    First Solar announces plan for first distribution center[9]

    First Solar announced plans to open its first distribution center in Greenville on the U.S. East Coast to provide delivery services to U.S. customers. The center was expected to begin operations later that month.

  • Reported

    First Solar reports fourth-quarter and full-year results[10]

    First Solar reported a fourth-quarter loss of $59 million, compared with a $52 million profit a year earlier, and full-year 2019 net sales of $3.1 billion.

Read more(13)

Sources16 sources

  1. 1First Solaren.wikipedia.org
  2. 2First Solar下调全年销量预测finanznachrichten.de
  3. 3First Solar 在南卡罗来纳州启用组件工厂finanznachrichten.de
  4. 4Terabase Energy宣布收购PlantPredict的协议prnewswire.com
  5. 5First Solar 任命 Anita Marangoly George 为董事会成员finance.yahoo.com
  6. 6First Solar 推出 Series 6 CuRe 光伏组件semiconductor-today.com
  7. 7Longroad 宣布收购 First Solar 的 Sun Streams 2、4 和 5 项目prnewswire.com
  8. 8Goldman Sachs Renewable Power收购American Kings Solar项目finance.yahoo.com
  9. 9First Solar宣布计划开设首个配送中心tech.sina.com.cn
  10. 10First Solar公布第四季度及全年业绩pv-magazine.com
  11. 11DESRI从First Solar收购犹他州两个太阳能项目energyglobal.com
  12. 12Dominion Energy收购Seabrook Solar项目prnewswire.com
  13. 13DESRI收购First Solar开发的两处犹他州项目semiconductor-today.com
  14. 14Dominion Energy acquires large-scale solar project in South Carolina - Daily Energy Insiderdailyenergyinsider.com
  15. 15First Solar's new South Carolina plant has already filled about 500 jobs, with nearly 700 expected after a second phase in 2027jobsnhire.com
  16. 16First Solar计划在格林维尔开设首个太阳能电池板配送中心finance.sina.com.cn

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