News: Photovoltaics
1 May 2024
MN8 orders 457MW of First Solar modules
First Solar Inc of Tempe, AZ, USA says that MN8 Energy LLC has placed orders for 457MW of its cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film photovoltaics (PV) modules, including 170MW of its Series 6 Plus bifacial modules and 287MW of its Series 7 modules, to power projects in the northeastern and southern USA.
Founded as Goldman Sachs Renewable Power in 2017, MN8 owns and operates a 3.2GW portfolio, delivering renewable energy to over 40 corporates, 70 government entities, and 20 utilities. MN8 previously transacted with First Solar in its acquisition of the 123MW American Kings Solar project in California.
“We are pleased to continue our relationship with First Solar, building certainty and resilience into our development pipeline,” says MN8’s chief operations officer David Fernandez. “By executing these agreements, MN8 demonstrates strong support for developing a robust domestic supply chain for the US renewable industry that upholds the highest environmental, sourcing and manufacturing standards. Furthermore, we’re thrilled to be collaborating with a partner that shares our commitment to responsibly and domestically produced solar, strengthening our industry’s social license to operate,” he adds.
“MN8 joins a growing number of renewable energy companies that are choosing certainty, competitiveness, and responsible solar by choosing First Solar,” says First Solar’s chief commercial officer Georges Antoun. “We thank MN8 for its trust and look forward to expanding this relationship.”
First Solar, which exited 2023 with 6GW of annual US nameplate capacity, is the largest solar manufacturer in the Western Hemisphere. Its investments in US manufacturing are also believed to make it the most significant enabler of American jobs among solar manufacturers. According to a recent study commissioned by First Solar, existing operations supported an estimated 16,245 direct, indirect and induced jobs in 2023, representing about $1.6bn in annual labor income. As First Solar grows to an expected 14GW in annual US nameplate capacity in 2026, the company is forecast to support an estimated 30,060 direct, indirect, and induced jobs across the USA. The study projects that every direct job that First Solar supports in 2026 will support 7.3 jobs nationwide.
In addition to expanding its footprint in Ohio to over 7GW of annual nameplate capacity this year, First Solar expects to invest over $2bn in new manufacturing facilities in Alabama and Louisiana, which are expected to come online in 2024 and 2025, respectively. Additionally, First Solar is on track to commission about $450m in R&D innovation infrastructure in Perrysburg, Ohio, in second-half 2024.
Birch Creek orders 547MW of First Solar’s Series 6 Plus Bifacial modules
