Lightsource bp to Purchase 4 GW of First Solar Modules

Global solar developer Lightsource bp has placed an order for 4 GW of advanced thin film solar modules with module maker First Solar. The modules, scheduled to be delivered between 2026 and 2028, are expected to power Lightsource bp projects in the United States.

This latest deal follows a prior order by Lightsource bp for up to 4.3 GWDC signed in 2021, and the developer may become one of the world’s largest users of solar technology of First Solar.

Kevin Smith, CEO Americas, Lightsource bp, said, “We are seizing the opportunity by not just growing our 20 GW development pipeline across the United States, but also creating sizeable demand for our US-based partner First Solar, which, in turn, is investing in innovation and manufacturing, and supporting thousands of direct and indirect American jobs.”

The orders include Series 6 Plus and next-generation Series 7 modules of First Solar that have been designed and developed at its R&D centers in California and Ohio.

Lightsource bp has committed to recycling solar panels across all their projects. Hence, it has also committed to using advanced high-value recycling program of First Solar to manage modules at the end of their operating lives.

First Solar claims to be a pioneer in recycling solar panels, operating an advanced recycling program that provides closed-loop semiconductor recovery for use in new modules, while also recovering other materials including aluminum, glass, and laminates.

First Solar is the first PV manufacturer to have its product included in the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) global registry for sustainable electronics.

Georges Antoun, chief commercial officer, First Solar, mentioned, “Our relationship with Lightsource bp is a partnership in growth. We enable their growth with certainty through long-term pricing and supply commitments, and advanced technology, while they enable ours by providing the certainty of demand we need to invest in manufacturing.”

The Expansion Spree

First Solar is expanding its US manufacturing capacity, with a third factory expected to come online in Ohio in the first half of 2023 and a fourth factory which is under construction in Alabama and expected to be commissioned by 2025. Both factories will produce the Series 7 modules ordered by Lightsource bp.

In November 2021, First Solar secured orders for up to 5.4 GW photovoltaic (PV) solar modules from global solar leader Lightsource bp and integrated energy company bp.