First Solar Bags 1.5 GW Module Order

• SB Energy has placed an order for 1.5 GW solar modules for its advanced stage pipeline in the US
• First Solar's Ohio fab will deliver the order for projects to be deployed in 2023, 2024 and 2025
• This expands SB Energy's previous order for 1.7 GW First Solar modules to now 3.2 GW

A subsidiary of Japan's SoftBank Group, SB Energy Global LLC has contracted US based CdTe thin-film solar module maker First Solar, Inc to supply 1.5 GW of its panels for the company's 4 GW strong solar and storage project development pipeline in the US.

First Solar said it will deliver 1.5 GW order from its Ohio production fab for SB Energy's projects in advanced stage pipeline.

According to SB Energy, this order is an expansion of its original procurement of 1.7 GW of First Solar modules for its 5 utility scale projects in Texas and California and expands the total cooperation to 3.2 GW now.

Of the 1.7 GW contracted earlier, SB Energy said it has reached commercial operations on 1.3 GW capacity in both the states over the last 6 months. Remaining 0.4 GW are expected to reach commercial operations in H1/2022.

While the partners did not specify the duration of the contract period, First Solar CEO Mark Widmar during a call with analysts to share Q4/2021 results said that the multi-year order is for projects to be deployed in 2023, 2024 and 2025 (see First Solar's 2021 Financial Results).

SB Energy aims to achieve 10 GW renewable energy and storage projects in operation or under construction by the end of 2025, and the 1.5 GW module order supports this plan.

Earlier in January 2022, First Solar secured an order for 1.2 GW DC solar panels from Swift Current Energy (see First Solar: 1.2 GW DC Series 6 Module Order).