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The facility is believed to be the largest capital investment in the area''s history, representing an investment of approximately $1.1 billion in the expansion of America''s solar panel production capacity.
The facility is expected to start commercial shipments by the first half of 2026 and is forecast to grow the company''s nameplate manufacturing capacity by 3.5 GW. This will enable First Solar to reach approximately 14 GW in the US and 25 GW globally in 2026. Upon completion, it will cover over two million square feet and will be able to transform a sheet of glass into a ready-to-ship Series 7 module in approximately 4.5 hours, producing over one dozen new Louisiana-made solar panels every minute.
"This is a historic day for Iberia Parish and Louisiana as we celebrate this record-breaking investment and the hundreds of good-paying jobs it will create" said Governor John Bel Edwards. "First Solar choosing our state for its newest solar panel production facility solidifies Louisiana''s place as a leader in the global energy transition. Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make this day happen, and we are all proud to welcome First Solar to Louisiana."
First Solar''s investment in Louisiana is expected to create over 700 new direct manufacturing jobs in the state. The company, already believed to be the largest employer in America''s solar manufacturing sector, with more than 2,500 employees across the country, expects to have over 4,000 direct employees in the US by 2026.
"As America''s solar company, we are proud to welcome Louisiana to the largest solar manufacturing footprint in the Western Hemisphere" added Mark Widmar, chief executive officer, First Solar. "This facility, like its sister facilities in Ohio and Alabama, represents First Solar''s investment in our country''s future. We are creating enduring value for the US by building a robust solar manufacturing base and the value chains that enable it. This delivers jobs and economic value today, and establishes the foundations needed for the country to enter the next decade with a secure supply of solar energy technology."
Since 2020, First Solar has embarked on a $4.1 billion manufacturing expansion strategy that has seen it grow from approximately 6 GW of global nameplate capacity to 13 GW operational currently, with approximately 12 GW of nameplate capacity expected to come online in the US and India between the second half of 2023 and 2026.
In addition to the Louisiana facility, First Solar commissioned its third Ohio factory earlier this year and is expected to complete its new facility in Alabama and the expansion of its existing Ohio footprint in 2024. The company also expects its new facility in India to begin commercial production in the fourth quarter of this year. Additionally, the company is investing up to $370 million in a dedicated R&D innovation centre in Perrysburg, Ohio, which is expected to be completed next year.
Rudolph Libbe, Inc., will serve as the general contractor for the project and has already engaged with Lafayette-headquartered LEMOINE to assist with early site work. The new facility is expected to create 500 construction jobs in Louisiana over the next 18 months.
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Expected to be completed in the first half of 2026, the facility is forecast to grow the company''s nameplate manufacturing capacity by 3.5 gigawatts (GW) to reach approximately 14 GW in the US in 2026.
The company''s investment in Louisiana is expected to create over 700 new direct manufacturing jobs in the state.
The company, already believed to be the largest employer in America''s solar manufacturing sector with over 2,500 employees across the country, expects to have over 4,000 direct employees in the country by 2026, including 850 new manufacturing jobs expected to be created in Alabama and Ohio and over 100 new R&D jobs planned in Ohio.
"First Solar''s selection of Iberia Parish for its newest solar panel production facility leaves no doubt that Louisiana is leading the global energy transition, and creating good-paying jobs as a result" said Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards. "This massive investment and the jobs it will create are a huge win for the people of Acadiana and the entire state. It is proof positive that Louisiana''s ''all-of-the-above'' approach to energy is growing and diversifying our economy. Thank you to everyone who made this day a reality, and a special thank-you to First Solar for trusting Louisiana to be part of their mission to create a more sustainable future."
First Solar is unique among the world''s ten largest solar manufacturers for being the only US-headquartered company and not manufacturing in China. The company''s tellurium-based semiconductor, which allows it to avoid any dependence on Chinese crystalline silicon supply chains, is the second most common photovoltaic technology available today.
The new Louisiana facility will produce First Solar''s Series 7 modules, which are expected to be manufactured with 100 percent US-made components identified in the current domestic content guidance issued by the US Department of Treasury. First Solar anticipates that once the new factory is completed and ramped, Series 7 modules will account for over two thirds of its annual domestic nameplate capacity. Series 7 modules currently produced at the company''s Ohio facility are already manufactured with US-made glass and steel.
First Solartoday broke ground on a previously announced manufacturing facility in Iberia Parish, Louisiana, its fifth fully vertically integrated factory in the United States. The ceremony was attended by the Governor of Louisiana, John Bel Edwards, and other dignitaries from the state.
The facility, believed to be the largest capital investment in the area''s history, represents an investment of approximately $1.1 billion in expanding America''s capacity to produce photovoltaic (PV) solar panels. Expected to start commercial shipments by the first half of 2026, the facility is forecast to grow the company''s nameplate manufacturing capacity by 3.5 gigawatts (GW) to reach approximately 14 GW in the US and 25 GW globally in 2026.
When completed, the fully vertically integrated manufacturing facility will cover over two million square feet and is designed to transform a sheet of glass into a ready-to-ship Series 7 module in approximately 4.5 hours, producing over one dozen new Louisiana-made solar panels every minute.
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