First Solar Wins Large Order for 5G W Cadmium Telluride Modules, and the Package Is Recycled!

an American solar module manufacturer, announced a framework agreement with Energix, an Israeli renewable energy company, to supply 5GW DC (GWDC) cadmium telluride thin film photovoltaic modules. Scheduled for delivery between 2026 and 2030,

the solar modules will be installed at a series of Energix projects in Israel, Poland and the United States. According

to Energix, this is the group's largest deal to date and the group will have more than 7 GW to 9 GW of First Solar technology by 2030 based on existing orders.

Energix is one of Israel's largest renewable energy companies, with more than 7 GW of projects under construction, and has procured more than 3.5G WDC modules from First Solar since 2017. Notably

, under the agreement, First Solar will also process end-of-life PV modules from Energix through its recycling service program, specifically providing closed-loop semiconductor recycling that can be used in new modules, as well as recycling of materials such as aluminum, glass , and laminates.

As the largest solar module manufacturer in the United States, First Solar is accelerating its capacity expansion, planning to expand its annual capacity from 6.5 GW to more than 10.9 GW by 2026, including the third manufacturing plant in the United States, which began commercial operation in Earl y 2023. And India's first manufacturing plant, 2023, which is expected to be operational in the second half of the year.

In addition, First Solar plans to build a fourth manufacturing plant in Alabama, USA, which is expected to start operation by the end of 2024, and expand its existing manufacturing scale in Ohio, USA.

The company's cadmium telluride thin-film solar cell technology set a new record in the first quarter of 2023, with a cell conversion efficiency of 22.3%, and announced a $370 million investment to build a new research and development center in Perrysburg, Ohio, expected to be completed in 2024. As some traditional solar polysilicon modules face global supply chain challenges and are unable to compete in the U.S. market, many project developers have begun to turn to First Solar's cooperation.