First Solar Increases The Production of Solar Panels and Targets China
In an article from Cooler Planet, I read about First Solar Holdings, which was created in 1999, in Arizona, Phoenix. Since the creation moments the company revolutionized the country. They have expanded the production in many areas, including overseas. They even sell solar panels in many EU countries and they have the government support.
But this so called supremacy is going to change soon since two big solar countries – Spain and Germany are cutting back their costs because of the recession. So the First Solar company will have to lower their prices on silicon chips and many others. They might even take the business more locally. They have also invested a lot in the last few months.
They used $100 million to increase the capacity of the Perrysburg, Ohio plant. They added 4 production lines that will allow the company to make nearly 2.8 million panels per year. They will do so since the beginning in March of 2010. They have also built a research center there will 140 new job openings.
First Solar Holdings also has production facilities in Malaysia and Germany. They are on the stock market and they are one of the most respected companies. They have announced that they are planning to reduce the costs for the solar panels pretty soon. The cost will be cut to almost $1 per watt, from $3 in the past.
Right now, US is only the forth nation producing solar power, after Japan, Spain and the leader, Germany. Even if recession has not passed, the company is still thinking about opening new projects and new development facilities. They plan to be part of solar farms close to the Mojave Desert or other areas. One of the projects that will be for sure completed is the 10-megawatt system in Wyandot County, Ohio. Among other future projects there is also the one of 7.65 megawatts in Blythe, state of California, the one of 30 megawatts in Cimarron, New Mexico and many others across the nation.
First Solar also signed into a new cooperative venture with Chine to create a plant in Inner Mongolia. The plant will be opened in June of 2010.
