First Solar Exceeds 1GW of PV Module Production and Shipment in 2009
Source/Type: Reported News

Author: CompoundSemi News Staff

December 16, 2009... First Solar Inc. reports that in 2009 it has manufactured and shipped more than 1 gigawatt of its photovoltaic (PV) solar modules. Thus, the company, a maker of CdTe solar cells, became the first PV company to attain over 1GW produced and in a single year. First Solar estimates that one gigawatt of solar modules produces enough electricity to serve the needs of approximately 145,000 average American homes and saves roughly 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. First Solar has increased its manufacturing capacity from approximately 75 megawatts (MW) per year at the beginning of 2007 to more than 1GW per year today. The company boasts that the it is the largest PV producer in the world.

"This proof that the solar industry can achieve the manufacturing scale necessary to fight climate change is especially timely in light of the Copenhagen conference that began last week," said Bruce Sohn, First Solar president. "Our efforts in scaling our technology are critical to creating a more sustainable energy infrastructure and reducing greenhouse gas emissions." First Solar says it has continually lowered the cost of manufacturing solar modules, and it reported breaking the $1 per watt barrier earlier this year. Company News Release

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