First Solar first to produce 1 GW in a single year

First Solar Inc. announced it has manufactured and shipped more than 1 gigawatt (GW) of its photovoltaic (PV) solar modules in 2009, becoming the first PV company to attain this production volume in a single year.

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.

As the worldÂ’s largest solar module manufacturer, First Solar has increased its manufacturing capacity from approximately 75 megawatts (MW) per year at the beginning of 2007 to more than 1GW today.

“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,” 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 has continually lowered the cost of manufacturing solar modules, breaking the $1 per watt barrier earlier this year.

Related News

wind turbines

Cancelling Ontario's wind project could cost over $100M, company warns

TORONTO - Cancelling an eastern Ontario green energy project that has been under development for nearly a decade could cost more than $100 million, the president of the company said Wednesday, warning that the dispute could be headed to the courts.

Ontario's governing Progressive Conservatives said this week that one of their first priorities during the legislature's summer sitting would be to cancel the contract for the White Pines Project in Prince Edward County.

Ian MacRae, president of WPD Canada, the company behind the project, said he was stunned by the news given that the project is weeks away from completion.

"What our…

READ MORE
power blackout

Study: US Power Grid Has More Blackouts Than ENTIRE Developed World

READ MORE

tesla solar home

Tesla reduces Solar + home battery pricing following California blackouts

READ MORE

bc hydro logo

B.C. residents and businesses get break on electricity bills for three months

READ MORE

Share of coal in UK's electricity system falls to record lows

READ MORE