India’s ‘1st’ Fully Integrated Vertically Integrated PV Plant

• First Solar has started commercial operations of its 3.3 GW factory located in Tamil Nadu, India 
• This expands the company's geographic footprint for manufacturing from the US, Malaysia and Vietnam 
• It calls the factory the world's 1st net-zero water withdrawal solar manufacturing facility 

US-headquartered solar PV modules manufacturer First Solar's maiden factory in India has been officially inaugurated as the country's '1st' fully vertically integrated solar manufacturing plant. The 3.3 GW plant is the company's 6th operational factory globally. 

Located in Tamil Nadu, the factory will produce First Solar's latest Series 7 solar modules that do not depend on China-dominated polysilicon supply. It calls the fab the world's 1st net-zero water withdrawal solar manufacturing facility since it depends on tertiary treated reverse osmosis water from the city's sewage treatment plant with zero wastewater discharge. 

The manufacturer claims that the Series 7 module produced in India has a carbon and water footprint that's approximately 4 times lower than Chinese crystalline silicon solar panels. 

Recently, First Solar announced an offtake contract for solar and wind energy with Cleantech Solar to power its Tamil Nadu fab (see First Solar Announces RE Procurement Pact In India). 

It was inaugurated by the Minister for Industries, Promotions and Commerce of the Government of Tamil Nadu, Dr. TRB Rajaa, with the US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti in attendance. 

First Solar says the project cost an investment worth $700 million and directly employs close to 1,000 people. The US Development Finance Corporation (DFC) supported the fab with a $500 million loan (see $500 Million Loan For India Solar Manufacturing). 

At the end of 2023, First Solar had a nameplate annual production capacity of over 16 GW spread in the US, Malaysia, Vietnam. Further expansion in Ohio and new factories in Alabama and Louisiana in the US will expand its total annual nameplate capacity to 25 GW by 2026.