First Solar, Inc. has won a contract to provide Swift Current Energy with 500 megawatts (MW) of cutting-edge Series 7 thin film modules. Swift Current Energy, a Boston-based firm specializing in utility-scale clean energy assets, has already procured 3.3 gigawatts of First Solar modules in 2022. This recent order, confirmed before the disclosure of First Solar’s Q3 2023 results on October 31, entails module deliveries scheduled between 2027 and 2028.
Swift Current Energy has successfully deployed over 2.5 GW of renewable energy projects, boasting a project pipeline exceeding 10 GW in solar, wind, and energy storage. With 1.4 GW currently operational or in advanced construction, Swift Current Energy is a key player in the clean energy sector. First Solar, renowned for its responsibly produced advanced thin film photovoltaic (PV) modules, sets industry benchmarks in quality, durability, reliability, design, and environmental performance.
First Solar’s Series 7 modules lead in having the lowest carbon and water footprint among commercially available PV modules, earning recognition in the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) global registry for sustainable electronics. As the largest solar manufacturer in the Western Hemisphere, First Solar operates with approximately 6 GW of fully integrated nameplate capacity in the US. The company’s strategic expansion aims to reach 14 GW in the US and 25 GW globally by 2026.
With a third Ohio factory commissioned and a 0.9 GW expansion planned in the state, First Solar is set to build new manufacturing facilities in Alabama and Louisiana, each with an anticipated annual nameplate capacity of 3.5 GW. These facilities, representing over $2 billion in investment, are expected to commence commercial shipments in 2024 and 2026, respectively. They will produce Series 7 modules, aligned with 100% US-made components as per current domestic content guidelines from the US Department of the Treasury.
Upon completion and ramp-up of the Louisiana factory, Series 7 modules are projected to constitute more than two-thirds of First Solar’s annual domestic nameplate capacity. Notably, Series 7 modules from the Ohio facility already incorporate US-made glass and steel.
“As we continue to progress our US development pipeline, certainty of pricing and supply is essential to ensuring that we deliver capacity as planned,” said Eric Lammers, co-founder and chief executive officer, Swift Current Energy. “This latest agreement with First Solar supports our effort to build a resilient, competitive value chain, while supporting investments in domestic manufacturing, along with the jobs and economic benefits that come with it.”
“We are thrilled that Swift Current Energy has chosen to extend its partnership with First Solar to 2028, entrusting a significant portion of its development pipeline to our technology,” added Georges Antoun, chief commercial officer, First Solar. “Their decision speaks volumes to the competitive value that we are able to deliver in terms of energy, certainty of pricing and supply, and an advanced PV module that is responsibly produced in America, for America.”
