Brand Intelligence Graphcompany
Company Overview
About First Solar
First Solar, Inc. is a Tempe, Arizona-based solar module manufacturer — publicly traded on NASDAQ (NASDAQ: FSLR) as an S&P 500 component — operating as the largest US solar manufacturer and the only vertically integrated thin-film cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar module company at commercial scale, with 23.5 GW of total nameplate manufacturing capacity across facilities in the United States (Ohio, Alabama, Louisiana), India, Vietnam, and Malaysia as of 2025. In fiscal year 2024, First Solar reported $4.2 billion in net sales (a 27% increase from $3.3 billion in 2023) with a record 14.1 GW of modules sold. In 2025, First Solar committed $330 million to a new South Carolina factory in Gaffney (3.7 GW capacity, ~600 jobs, operations H2 2026) that would bring total US capacity to 17.7 GW. First Solar's CdTe modules have achieved commercial production efficiencies exceeding 20%, and the company holds first-mover status with the EPEAT Climate+ designation for ultra-low carbon solar technology. CEO Mark Widmar leads the company. Founded 1990 in Perrysburg, Ohio.
Business Model & Competitive Advantage
First Solar's CdTe thin-film technology addresses the supply chain vulnerability that silicon-based solar module manufacturers face: conventional crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar modules (which represent 95%+ of the global solar market) require polysilicon feedstock predominantly manufactured in China's Xinjiang region — creating supply chain concentration risk and IRA domestic content compliance challenges for US solar developers seeking the 10 percentage point investment tax credit bonus for domestic content. First Solar's CdTe thin-film process (depositing semiconductor material directly onto glass without polysilicon) is manufactured exclusively in the United States and qualified markets, enabling US utility-scale solar projects to achieve full IRA domestic content bonus credit. The conversion efficiency advantage (20%+ CdTe efficiency approaching silicon module performance) combined with a manufacturing process that uses 99% less semiconductor material than silicon panels and a module recycling program (First Solar pays shipping to return end-of-life modules) creates the lifecycle environmental performance that corporate PPA buyers require for RE100 commitments.
Competitive Landscape 2025–2026
In 2025, First Solar competes in the US utility-scale solar module, thin-film photovoltaic, and domestic clean energy manufacturing market with LONGi Green Energy (SZSE: 601012, #1 global solar, Chinese manufacturer, restricted from IRA bonus), Canadian Solar (NASDAQ: CSIQ, polysilicon modules, $6B revenue), and Qcells/Hanwha Solutions (KOSPI: 009830, Georgia manufacturing, Korean parent) for US utility solar developer IRA-compliant domestic content module supply agreements. The IRA domestic content bonus ($0.03/W additional production tax credit for domestic modules) creates a US price umbrella that makes First Solar's US manufacturing economically competitive with Chinese-manufactured modules before tariff and policy risk. The South Carolina factory investment ($330M, 3.7 GW, H2 2026) expands US capacity to support the growing IRA-driven utility solar pipeline. The 2025 strategy focuses on locking in long-term supply agreements with US utility developers, completing the South Carolina factory construction, and advancing the Series 7 module technology to expand CdTe efficiency above 22%.
The First Solar Story
Founders
Recent Activity
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Major milestones in First Solar's journey
Leadership Team
Meet the leaders behind First Solar
Mark R. Widmar
Mark R. Widmar was appointed Chief Executive Officer in July 2016 after serving as Chief Financial Officer since joining First Solar in April 2011. He also served as Chief Accounting Officer from February 2012 through June 2015, bringing deep financial and operational expertise to his leadership of the company.
Alexander R. Bradley
Alexander R. Bradley has served as Chief Financial Officer of First Solar since October 2016, overseeing all financial operations, strategic planning, investor relations, and financial reporting for the publicly traded company.
Georges Antoun
Georges Antoun has been the Chief Commercial Officer of First Solar since July 2016, leading global sales, business development, and customer relationships as the company expands its utility-scale solar module business worldwide.
Markus Gloeckler
Markus Gloeckler has been the Chief Technology Officer since 2020, leading First Solar's technology innovation, research and development efforts, and continuous improvement of thin-film CdTe solar module efficiency and performance.
Caroline Stockdale
Caroline Stockdale joined First Solar in October 2019 and serves as Chief People and Communications Officer, overseeing human resources, talent development, internal and external communications, and corporate culture initiatives.
Michael Koralewski
Michael Koralewski was appointed Chief Supply Chain Officer in November 2022, leading global supply chain operations, manufacturing, logistics, and procurement as First Solar expands production capacity across multiple continents.
Key Differentiators
Emerging Innovator
First Solar is an emerging player bringing innovative solutions to the Climate & Energy market.
Frequently Asked Questions
Estimated Visibility Trend (Beta)
Simulated 8-week rolling score
Based on estimated brand signals. Historical tracking coming soon.
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