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SOLAR INDUSTRY AWARDS I WINNERS


SOLAR AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE: COMPANY First Solar


First Solar entered the solar market in 1999 with a focus on thin film technology at a time when silicon based solar modules held a superior market share. Despite the market turmoil that sometimes surrounds the solar and PV industries First Solar has continued on a path of excellence that is hard to match anywhere in the world.


First Solar was the first PV company to produce 1GW in a single year as well as the first to break the $1/watt manufacturing cost barrier. They hold multiple world records for CdTe thin film solar module (17%) and cell (21%) efficiency. Long before most companies First Solar implemented a global PV module recycling program


The company has developed as if it was always slightly ahead of the curve. After initially selling product into Germany, where there first customer bought their entire first year of product, First Solar could see the European financial models that were effective and set up a broader


approach in their home country of the US where they developed world’s largest contracted solar project pipeline of 3GW+ and facilitated the financing for ~2GW (representing ~$9 billion). They have also developed advanced grid integration, plant control, forecasting, and energy scheduling capabilities.


With over 9 gigawatts (GW) installed worldwide, First Solar has continued to remain one of the jewels in the global PV industry. With stronger competition from newer markets, there have been some predicting the demise of the company but the opposite occurred as First Solar moved from strength to strength.


First Solar’s leadership in renewable energy is a result of expertise and nearly 15-year track record of manufacturing, developing, financing, engineering, constructing, and operating the world’s leading sources of sustainable, solar energy, making them worthy winners of this years award.


Christopher Burghardt, VP Business Development and Sales, Europe at First Solar


52 www.solar-international.net I Issue V 2014


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