Orders booked through 2030! The cadmium telluride photovoltaic giant will build a new 3.7 GW module factory in the United States.

While Chinese photovoltaic companies are fostering healthy competition through self‑imposed production cuts, the leading U.S. PV firm across the Atlantic is aggressively expanding its capacity.

 

 

Recently, First Solar announced plans to build a new 3.7 GW factory in the United States by 2026. According to reports, the new facility will handle the downstream processing of Series 6 modules that are initially manufactured at its international plants.

 

The plant is expected to begin operations by the end of 2026 and will continue expanding its capacity in the first half of 2027. Total investment amounts to approximately US$300 million, with nearly US$260 million allocated to capital expenditures.

 

First Solar CEO Mark Widmar stated that this investment will enable the company to:

 

• Avoiding the risk of future restrictions associated with “Foreign Entities of Concern (FEOC)”
• Reduce import tariffs and logistics costs for finished components.
• Increase the gross profit margin of U.S. domestic sales.

 

Meanwhile, First Solar is scaling back production at its overseas facilities, including its plants in Vietnam and Malaysia, for reasons that include:

 

• Chinese components dominate the European market.
• India has refused market access to products manufactured in Southeast Asia.
• Imbalance between supply and demand for ball components
• The U.S. tariff policy on photovoltaic products from Southeast Asia remains undecided.

 

 

Following its earnings call on October 30, First Solar’s stock price rose by more than 15%. The company reported that it produced 3.6 GW of thin-film modules in the third quarter, with 2.5 GW manufactured in the United States and 1.1 GW overseas. Affected by production issues at U.S.-based glass suppliers, output declined slightly by approximately 0.2 GW compared to the previous quarter; this issue has since been resolved.

 

According to First Solar’s third-quarter 2025 financial report, as of the end of the quarter, the company had outstanding module orders totaling 53.7 GW, valued at $16.4 billion. The order cycle extends through 2030.

 

First Solar stated that its products are not subject to significant trade policy risks, including compliance with foreign‑entity ownership restrictions. Its modules are also expected to qualify for the domestic‑content incentive, which provides an additional 10% tax credit on top of the standard 30% investment tax credit available to solar developers.

 

“Despite the new challenges posed by trade and policy developments to many companies in the industry, we have maintained our competitive edge by offering price and delivery certainty, enabling us to effectively respond to evolving demand drivers and reinforce our leadership position,” said Mark Widmar, CEO of First Solar.

 

 

During the earnings call, First Solar reaffirmed its 2025 net sales outlook, projecting revenue between $4.95 billion and $5.2 billion for the year.

 

“Thanks to our disciplined approach to balancing growth, liquidity, and profitability, we have further strengthened our position by commissioning our fifth U.S.-based manufacturing facility, bolstering liquidity, and achieving record sales,” said Widmar.

 

First Solar is a leading manufacturer of cadmium telluride thin-film solar technology. Unlike the mainstream crystalline silicon approach, it maintains a high degree of self‑reliance and control over its core processes. The company operates approximately 23.5 gigawatts of installed production capacity worldwide, with an increasingly significant share in the United States. With the commissioning of new facilities in Alabama and Louisiana, First Solar expects its U.S. capacity to reach roughly 11 gigawatts by the end of 2026, while its total capacity will exceed 14 gigawatts, further solidifying its position as the largest solar manufacturer in the United States.