First Solar
First Solar is a US-headquartered manufacturer of cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film photovoltaic modules, selling utility-scale solar products primarily to developers, EPCs, and project owners across North America, India, and other international markets.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersTempe, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What First Solar does
First Solar, founded in 1999 and headquartered in Tempe, Arizona (incorporated in Delaware), is the largest solar module manufacturer in the Western Hemisphere and the only US-headquartered company among the world's largest producers. It designs and manufactures cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules — its flagship Series 6 and Series 7 platforms — using a proprietary, vertically integrated continuous process that transforms sheets of glass into finished panels in approximately four hours. The technology uses 1-2% of the semiconductor material required by conventional crystalline silicon modules, does not rely on Chinese c-Si supply chains, and is the only thin-film technology manufactured at gigawatt scale. Manufacturing facilities span Ohio, Alabama, Louisiana, South Carolina (H2 2026), India, Malaysia, and Vietnam, with global annual nameplate capacity expected at approximately 25 GW by 2026; closed-loop recycling recovers up to 90% of semiconductor material and 90% of glass and operates in the US, Germany, and Malaysia. The company does not serve the residential rooftop market.
First Solar's revenue is generated primarily through direct sales of modules to utility-scale solar developers, EPC firms, and project owners for projects of 20 MW or larger, supplemented by authorized distribution partners (Guided Path Solar, Kinect, Graybar, WESCO, Greentech Renewables) for sub-20 MW North American projects and regional offices for India, APAC, EMEA, and Latin America. Q1 2026 net sales of $1.04 billion (+24% YoY) on record shipments of 3.8 GW produced a 47% gross margin and approximately 33% net margin. Federal Section 45X Advanced Manufacturing tax credits contributed approximately 76% of FY2025 gross margin and approximately 86% of projected FY2026 gross margin, and are scheduled to begin phasing out in 2030. A contracted sales backlog of 47.9 GW valued at approximately $14.4 billion runs through 2030. Recent strategic priorities include the March 2026 launch of CuRe (Copper Reduction) next-generation CdTe technology, ongoing US capacity expansion, the May 2026 GameChange Solar partnership for India, and an active IP enforcement program targeting TOPCon competitors.
First Solar firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- First Solar
- Legal name
- First Solar, Inc.
- Website
- https://firstsolar.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- First Solar is a US-headquartered manufacturer of cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film photovoltaic modules, selling utility-scale solar products primarily to developers, EPCs, and project owners across North America, India, and other international markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
First Solar industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Solar Photovoltaic Modules
- NAICS
- Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Flat Glass Manufacturing (327211)
- SIC
- Motors & Generators (3621), Prefabricated Metal Buildings & Components (3448)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Solar PV Module & Cell Manufacturing (Crystalline, Thin-Film) (EUAMAHAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Solar PV Module Manufacturing (Cells, Modules, Thin-Film) (EUAMABAD), Solar Inverters, Power Optimizers & MLPE Manufacturing (EUAMAHAB), Solar Plant Components Supply & Manufacturing (Modules, Cells, Wafers, Mirrors, Heliostats) (EUACAGAK), Solar Distribution & Wholesale Supply (Channel, Procurement, Logistics) (EUAMABAK)
Keywords
Where First Solar is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tempe
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices12 records
Markets served
First Solar business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Solar Module Sales: First Solar's primary revenue stream from designing, manufacturing, and marketing advanced thin-film CdTe PV solar modules to utility-scale solar developers, EPC firms, and project owners. The company sells modules directly to customers with projects of 20 MW or larger, and through distribution partners for smaller projects. Revenue is driven by module volumes sold, average selling prices, and geographic mix. Q1 2026 net sales of $1.04 billion, up 24% year-over-year, with record module shipments of 3.8GW and 47% gross margin.
- Section 45X Advanced Manufacturing Tax Credits: Federal tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act that significantly boost gross margins. Section 45X credits comprised approximately 76% of FY2025 gross margin and 86% of FY2026 projected gross margin. Credits are scheduled to begin phasing out starting in 2030.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Direct module sales — projects >=20 MW |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Distribution partner channel — projects <20 MW (North America) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
First Solar product offering
Product offeringCore offering
First Solar designs, manufactures, and markets advanced thin-film Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic (PV) solar modules for utility-scale and commercial solar power plants. The company produces its Series 7 and Series 6 module platforms using a fully integrated, continuous manufacturing process that transforms sheets of glass into functioning solar panels in approximately four hours, with operations across the US, India, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Supporting offerings include ecosystem components for module installation, PV recycling services that recover up to 90% of semiconductor material, and post-sales technical support.
Product overview
First Solar is a leading American solar technology company that manufactures advanced thin film cadmium telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic (PV) modules. The company's product portfolio centers on its Series 7 and Series 6 module platforms, which represent its core product offerings. Series 7 is the flagship platform with TR1 and FT1 variants, while Series 6 includes Plus and bifacial options. Supporting these core modules, First Solar offers an Ecosystem of components and structures, along with Recycling Solutions and Post Sales Support services. The company provides solar solutions through two main channels: Utility-Scale Solutions for large power plants and Distributed Generation Solutions for commercial and industrial applications. First Solar does not serve rooftop or residential markets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Series 7: Advanced thin film CdTe PV module product line manufactured in the US
- Series 6
- CuRe
- CattleTracker
- Responsible Solar
Products and services
- Series 7 Module
Quantifiable outcome
- Q1 2026 net sales of $1.04 billion, up 24% year-over-year, with net income of $347 million (65% YoY increase)
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use First Solar
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
First Solar technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability1 record
Feature6 records
First Solar partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- MIT Initiative for New Manufacturing (INM)minorFirst Solar joined MIT's Initiative for New Manufacturing (INM) as its eighth industry member during MIT Manufacturing Week, alongside existing members Amgen, Autodesk, GE Vernova, Flex, PTC, Sanofi, and Siemens. The partnership focuses on AI deployment on factory floors, workforce solutions, and startup-driven innovation in manufacturing.
- GameChange SolarcoreStrategic partnership to support deployment of domestically manufactured First Solar thin-film modules on GameChange's Genius Tracker systems in India. The collaboration builds on two operational utility-scale projects demonstrating approximately 99.8% uptime over more than a year. Both companies invested in R&D and engineering to ensure compatibility between GameChange's tracker systems and First Solar's Series 7 modules manufactured in India, optimizing generation profiles for end customers and addressing India's ALMM and ALCM regulatory requirements.
- Silicon RanchminorSilicon Ranch uses First Solar panels manufactured in Alabama as part of its patented CattleTracker system, the first commercial deployment combining utility-scale solar generation with full-scale beef cattle operations. Power is sold to Middle Tennessee Electric cooperative serving over 750,000 customers. Early research findings suggest the model supports both animal welfare and soil health.
- Renewable PropertiesminorRenewable Properties acquired 118 MW of First Solar's Series 7 cadmium telluride thin-film solar modules for deployment at small-scale utility and community solar projects across 17 US states, with the largest portion (51 MW) in California. The deal supports Renewable Properties' development pipeline while highlighting strategic importance of domestically manufactured solar equipment.
- 5N Plusminor5N Plus, a Canadian specialty semiconductor and critical mineral company, holds an upsized contract with First Solar — part of its record backlog of US$434 million. 5N Plus supplies germanium and other critical minerals used in First Solar's CdTe thin-film module manufacturing. 5N Plus also received a US government grant for germanium refining.
- TALON PVminorTALON PV, a US solar cell manufacturer, has established a partnership with First Solar as part of its strategy to become one of the largest c-Si cell producers in the United States. TALON's initial 4.8 GW Texas facility and planned second 4.8 GW expansion targets 9.6 GW total capacity by 2030. The partnership involves technology development and collaboration through TALON Technologies Germany, a pilot-scale commercialization platform in Freiburg.
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights7 records
First Solar competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- JinkoSolar: One of the world's largest solar module manufacturers with significant global capacity. Directly competes with First Solar in utility-scale solar, particularly as the target of First Solar's TOPCon patent litigation, and represents the dominant c-Si alternative to First Solar's thin-film approach.
- LONGi Green Energy: Largest crystalline silicon solar manufacturer globally with extensive utility-scale presence. Competes with First Solar in utility-scale solar projects where developers evaluate c-Si versus thin-film based on LCOE, bankability, and domestic content requirements.
- Trina Solar: Major global solar module manufacturer serving utility-scale and commercial markets with c-Si technology. Competes directly with First Solar on large project tenders and is among the manufacturers potentially affected by First Solar's TOPCon patent litigation.
- JA Solar: Top-tier global solar module manufacturer with significant utility-scale presence and vertically integrated c-Si production. Competes directly with First Solar for utility-scale project module supply and serves similar downstream customers.
- Canadian Solar: Global solar module manufacturer and project developer, also named as a defendant in First Solar's TOPCon patent litigation. Directly competes in utility-scale solar module supply and operates project development businesses paralleling First Solar's customer base.
- Hanwha Qcells: Major c-Si solar module manufacturer with significant US manufacturing investments. Direct competitor in US utility-scale solar and the subject of a tariff circumvention petition filed by First Solar and other US manufacturers.
- Maxeon Solar Technologies: Solar module manufacturer spun off from SunPower with premium positioning and proprietary IBC cell technology. Competes with First Solar in select commercial and distributed generation segments, though more residential-focused.
- Risen Energy: Major global c-Si solar module manufacturer with significant utility-scale presence. Competes with First Solar for large solar project module supply globally, particularly in emerging markets.
- Talesun Solar: Global solar module manufacturer with utility-scale and commercial market focus. Direct competitor to First Solar in c-Si module supply for large solar projects worldwide.
Emerging players
- Adani Solar: India's largest solar module manufacturer with significant domestic manufacturing capacity. Competes with First Solar in the Indian utility-scale market, particularly under India's ALMM/ALCM domestic content frameworks where First Solar also operates.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
First Solar social profiles
Digital presenceFirst Solar compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
First Solar financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
First Solar leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles19 records
First Solar subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
First Solar funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors8 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
First Solar M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A6 records
Investments3 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about First Solar
What does First Solar do?
First Solar designs, manufactures, and markets advanced thin-film Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic (PV) solar modules for utility-scale and commercial solar power plants. The company produces its Series 7 and Series 6 module platforms using a fully integrated, continuous manufacturing process that transforms sheets of glass into functioning solar panels in approximately four hours, with operations across the US, India, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Supporting offerings include ecosystem components for module installation, PV recycling services that recover up to 90% of semiconductor material, and post-sales technical support.
Is First Solar a public or private company?
First Solar is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was First Solar founded?
First Solar was founded in 1999. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is First Solar based?
First Solar is headquartered in Tempe, United States, in the North America region.
How does First Solar make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Solar Module Sales are the primary driver. The others are section 45X Advanced Manufacturing Tax Credits.
Who are First Solar's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are JinkoSolar, LONGi Green Energy, Trina Solar, JA Solar, Canadian Solar, Hanwha Qcells, Maxeon Solar Technologies, Risen Energy and Talesun Solar. Adani Solar is listed as an emerging player.
Does First Solar have an API?
No public API is recorded for First Solar.
What industry is First Solar in?
First Solar's product category is Solar Photovoltaic Modules. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMAHAA, Solar PV Module & Cell Manufacturing (Crystalline, Thin-Film), with a secondary code of EUAMABAD, Solar PV Module Manufacturing (Cells, Modules, Thin-Film). Its NAICS code is 221114 and its SIC code is 3621.