First Solar Commits to Powering 100% of Global Operations with Renewable Energy by 2028

America’s largest solar company joins RE100, pledges to power U.S. operations with renewable energy by 2026

TEMPE, Ariz., Aug. 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) today announced a commitment to power 100 percent of its global photovoltaic (PV) solar manufacturing operations with renewable energy by 2028. As part of an interim goal, the company has pledged to transition its facilities in the United States to carbon-free electricity by 2026.

The commitments, which cover the company’s Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, were announced as First Solar joined RE100, a global, collaborative initiative bringing together influential businesses committed to 100 percent renewable power. RE100 is led by international nonprofit the Climate Group in partnership with CDP.

“Making a credible commitment to go 100 percent renewable is not a decision we take lightly. It was essential for us to ensure that the promise that we make today is one that we can keep,” said Mark Widmar, chief executive officer, First Solar. “With this pledge, we will further lower our embodied carbon footprint, already the lowest in the industry, and move towards realizing the full promise of cleaner solar. We recognize that the solar manufacturing industry has a collective responsibility to set challenging decarbonization goals for itself, and we hope that our decision encourages other PV manufacturers to make their own commitments.”

The only American company among the world’s largest solar manufacturers, First Solar celebrated two decades since its founding in 1999 and has shipped over 25 gigawatts (GW)_DC of PV modules to over 45 countries around the world. With facilities in the U.S., Malaysia, and Vietnam, First Solar exited 2019 with a total global annualized manufacturing capacity of 5.5GW_DC. It is also the Western Hemisphere’s largest solar manufacturer, with a 1.9GW_DC manufacturing footprint in Ohio.

“By relying on long-term, fixed-price renewable energy, we’re not only investing in reducing our exposure to energy price volatility, but we’re also investing in a sustainable energy future,” said Mike Koralewski, chief manufacturing operations officer, First Solar. “As part of our strategy, we will strive to support the delivery of additional renewable energy capacity, especially in emerging corporate renewables markets in Malaysia and Vietnam.”