News

8 October 2008

 

First Solar breaks ground on Ohio CdTe PV expansion

First Solar Inc of Tempe, AZ, USA, which makes thin-film photovoltaic modules based on cadmium telluride (CdTe), has held the official groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of its facility in Perrysburg, OH, officiated by president Bruce Sohn and attended by Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, US Senators George Voinovich and Sherrod Brown, and guests representing state and local governments. The groundbreaking puts First Solar on track to complete plant construction by first-half 2009, with full volume production expected by second-quarter 2010.

The expansion (announced on 18 August) will add about 500,000 square feet of manufacturing, R&D and office space, and increase annual capacity to about 192MW (based on second-quarter 2008 run rates). The firm will also construct a separate facility to support increased development activities associated with its advanced thin-film solar module manufacturing technology. The new investment will add at least 134 new jobs to a workforce of 700. First Solar has collaborated with the State of Ohio and local leaders on a comprehensive incentive package for the two projects.

“Our growing capacity allows us to continue reducing the cost of solar electricity to a level competitive with conventional sources,” says Sohn.

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Visit: www.firstsolar.com