# First Solar

**Source:** https://geo.sig.ai/brands/first-solar  
**Vertical:** Climate & Energy  
**Subcategory:** General  
**Tier:** Emerging  
**Website:** firstsolar.com  
**Last Updated:** 2026-04-14

## Summary

Tempe AZ US solar module leader (NASDAQ: FSLR) at $4.2B 2024 revenue (+27%) with 23.5 GW total capacity; $330M South Carolina factory adding 3.7 GW and EPEAT Climate+ certified competing with Qcells for IRA-compliant domestic utility solar.

## Company Overview

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.

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.

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%.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is First Solar?
First Solar is a leading American solar technology company that manufactures advanced thin-film cadmium telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic modules and provides comprehensive solar energy solutions to utility-scale power plants worldwide. Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, First Solar is the largest solar module manufacturer in the United States with 23.5 GW of annual production capacity across facilities in Ohio, Alabama, Louisiana, India, Vietnam, and Malaysia.

### Who are First Solar's customers and target market?
First Solar primarily serves utility-scale solar project developers, independent power producers, and electric utilities seeking large-scale renewable energy solutions. The company's customers include major utilities and renewable energy developers globally who require high-efficiency, reliable solar modules for grid-scale power generation. First Solar focuses on sustainable markets with immediate need for utility-scale solar rather than rooftop residential applications.

### When was First Solar founded?
First Solar was founded in 1990 by inventor and physicist Harold McMaster as Solar Cells, Inc. in Perrysburg, Ohio. The company was acquired and rebranded as First Solar, Inc. in 1999 by True North Partners, LLC. Commercial production began in 2002, and the company went public on NASDAQ in 2006 under ticker symbol FSLR.

### Where is First Solar headquartered?
First Solar is headquartered in Tempe, Arizona. The company operates manufacturing facilities in Perrysburg, Ohio; Trinity, Alabama; New Iberia, Louisiana; Kulim, Malaysia; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; and Chennai, India. The company also operates the Jim Nolan Center for Solar Innovation, a major R&D facility in Lake Township, Ohio.

### How much funding has First Solar raised?
First Solar raised venture capital in its early years before going public in 2006 with an IPO that injected substantial capital into the company. As a publicly traded company on NASDAQ (FSLR), First Solar funds operations and expansion through public equity markets, debt financing, and operating cash flow. The company has invested billions in manufacturing capacity expansion, including $1.1 billion facilities in Alabama and Louisiana.

### What makes First Solar different from competitors?
First Solar differentiates through its proprietary thin-film cadmium telluride (CdTe) technology versus traditional crystalline silicon panels. Key advantages include: fastest manufacturing process (four hours from glass to panel), superior temperature coefficient and low-light performance, lower carbon footprint (first EPEAT Climate+ certified solar company), competitive cost structure, vertical integration from R&D through manufacturing, and comprehensive module recycling program. First Solar focuses exclusively on utility-scale markets rather than residential rooftop.

### Who are First Solar's main competitors?
First Solar competes with other utility-scale solar module manufacturers including Chinese companies like JinkoSolar, Trina Solar, JA Solar, and LONGi Solar, as well as South Korean manufacturers like Hanwha Q CELLS. In the U.S. market, competitors include Canadian Solar and emerging domestic manufacturers. First Solar's thin-film CdTe technology differentiates it from competitors primarily using crystalline silicon technology.

### How can I contact First Solar?
You can contact First Solar through their website at www.firstsolar.com, which includes contact forms for commercial inquiries, investor relations, and media requests. The company's corporate headquarters is located in Tempe, Arizona, and maintains investor relations contacts for shareholders. For career opportunities, visit their careers portal for current openings across manufacturing, engineering, and business operations.

### Is First Solar hiring?
Yes, First Solar actively hires across its global manufacturing facilities and corporate offices. With major expansion underway including new facilities in Louisiana (opened 2025) and South Carolina (opening 2026), the company is creating thousands of new manufacturing, engineering, and support positions. The South Carolina facility alone will create approximately 600 new jobs. Visit the First Solar careers page for current opportunities.

### What's the latest news about First Solar?
Recent 2024-2025 news includes: announcing $330 million investment in new 3.7 GW South Carolina manufacturing facility; opening the $1.1 billion Louisiana facility ahead of schedule in July 2025; selling record 14.1 GW of modules in 2024; achieving $4.2 billion in revenue for 2024; opening the Jim Nolan Center for Solar Innovation in Ohio; and being named one of MIT Technology Review's 15 Climate Tech Companies to Watch. The company experienced a contract termination with BP involving 6.6 GW of modules.

### What is First Solar's market position?
First Solar is the largest solar module manufacturer in the United States and a global leader in utility-scale solar technology. The company ranks among the top solar manufacturers worldwide with 23.5 GW of annual production capacity and holds 54.5 GW of net bookings through 2030. First Solar's market capitalization exceeds $20 billion, and the company is recognized as one of the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations (#14 ranking) and one of America's Most Responsible Companies.

### What are First Solar's future plans?
First Solar plans to continue expanding U.S. manufacturing capacity with the new South Carolina facility (3.7 GW) coming online in second half of 2026, bringing total U.S. capacity to 17.7 GW annually. The company is investing in next-generation perovskite solar technology at its Jim Nolan Center R&D facility, positioning for future efficiency improvements. Focus areas include maintaining technology leadership in thin-film CdTe, expanding sustainable manufacturing practices, and meeting strong demand for domestically produced solar modules driven by U.S. policy support.

## Tags

energy, hardware, public, b2b

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*Data from geo.sig.ai Brand Intelligence Database. Updated 2026-04-14.*