SolAmerica Energy Partners with First Solar for 205MW of Solar Modules to Power Multiple Projects Across the US

SolAmerica Energy, based in Atlanta, has sealed a significant agreement with First Solar, Inc., securing 205 megawatts (MW)DC of high-performance, responsibly produced Series 6 Plus and Series 7 thin film solar modules. The deal, finalized prior to the release of First Solar’s Q3 2023 earnings, entails the delivery of modules scheduled for 2024 and 2025.

The modules acquired from First Solar are slated for deployment across a diverse portfolio of projects by SolAmerica Energy. These projects include community solar initiatives, three commercial and industrial projects, and a selection of projects aimed at supplying municipal utilities and electric cooperatives.

Expressing enthusiasm for the expanded partnership, Tully Blalock, CEO of SolAmerica Energy, emphasized the company’s commitment to US-developed and responsibly produced solar technology. Blalock highlighted the significance of the agreement in reinforcing SolAmerica’s dedication to supporting American solar initiatives, particularly in the Midwest, where the majority of the modules in the agreement are manufactured.

First Solar’s advanced thin film photovoltaic (PV) modules are recognized for setting industry benchmarks in quality, durability, reliability, design, and environmental performance. Notably, First Solar’s modules boast the lowest carbon and water footprint among commercially available PV modules and are the first to be included in the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) global registry for sustainable electronics.

Dana Kennard, Director of Business Development at First Solar, expressed pride in SolAmerica Energy’s selection of their technology, underscoring the direct support provided to US manufacturing and the domestic solar supply chain. First Solar, as the largest solar manufacturer in the Western Hemisphere, maintains approximately 6 GW of operational, fully vertically integrated nameplate capacity in the US. The company is poised for expansion, with plans to grow its footprint to 14 GW of nameplate capacity in the US and 25 GW globally by 2026.

In line with its expansion strategy, First Solar recently commissioned its third Ohio factory in 2023 and anticipates further expansion in the state, alongside the construction of new manufacturing facilities in Alabama and Louisiana. Each facility is expected to have an annual nameplate capacity of 3.5 GW, further solidifying First Solar’s position as a leader in the solar manufacturing industry.