First Solar Secures Second GW Scale Solar Module Order from Swift Current Energy

First Solar Secures Landmark 2.1 GW Order from Matrix for Advanced Thin Film Modules

Leading global provider of PV solar solutions First Solar has revealed that it has entered into an agreement with Swift Current Energy. The agreement will pave the way for First Solar to supply Swift Current Energy  with 2 gigawatts (GW)_DC of high-performance, thin film solar modules in 2025 and 2026.

Swift Current Energy, headquartered in Boston, acquires, develops, constructs, owns and operates highly competitive, utility-scale wind, solar and energy storage projects across the US. This is Swift Current’s second gigawatt-plus order for First Solar modules. Previously in this year, Swift Current Energy had placed an order for 1.27 GW_DC of First Solar modules.

“With the US rapidly advancing its energy infrastructure, our project pipeline is growing and we’re focused on ensuring that our capacity comes online as planned,” said Eric Lammers, Chief Executive Officer, Swift Current Energy. “Against this backdrop, it’s crucial that we work with partners like First Solar that will deliver not only high quality, responsibly-made products, but also certainty of supply. We are pleased to expand our partnership with First Solar and are proud to be supporting the growing clean energy manufacturing sector in the US.”

First Solar PV Modules 

First Solar says about its thin film PV modules that they are designed and developed at its research and development (R&D) centers in California and Ohio. Every module has a layer of Cadmium Telluride (CadTel) semiconductor, which is just three percent the thickness of a human hair. These modules are lower-carbon alternative to conventional crystalline silicon PV panels, the firm states. The company also continues to optimize the amount of semiconductor material used by enhancing its vapor deposition process through continued investment in R&D focused on more efficient module technology with a thinner semiconductor layer. At the same time, First Solar conducts an advanced recycling program for closed-loop semiconductor recovery for employment in new modules.

“As America’s energy transition gathers pace, it must be underpinned by supply chains that are reliable and robust, and our customers recognize that First Solar is well positioned to provide the long-term certainty they need,” said Georges Antoun, Chief Commercial Officer, First Solar. “Swift Current’s latest order demonstrates that our commitment to Responsible Solar and enabling certainty for our customers are key drivers of demand. We thank them for their continued trust in First Solar and our technology.”

First Solar, which maintains to be the only company headquartered in the USA among the world’s largest solar manufacturers, has also set sights on the expansion of its manufacturing capacity both in the USA and internationally. Its expansion plans include setting up a third factory, that is under construction in Ohio while also investing up to $1.2 billion towards expanding Ohio manufacturing footprint. That apart, First Solar will also be establishing a new manufacturing facility- its fourth American manufacturing facility, in the US Southeast. With this recent investment, the firm’s cumulative investment in American manufacturing is expected to be $4 billion. Its yearly US manufacturing capacity is expected to increase to more than 10 GW by 2025.

First Solar also has manufacturing facilities in Vietnam and Malaysia, and is in the process of setting up a new manufacturing facility in India, the operations for which are to begin in the second half of 2023. Once First Solar achieves completion in the US and India, it will boast of 20 GW_DC of yearly global manufacturing capacity in 2025.

Established in year 2016, Swift Current has commercialized over 1 GW of renewable energy projects, including utility-scale solar and wind. The firm also has a, expanding pipeline of more than 9 GW of planned renewable assets across North America.