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Released August 16, 2019 | SUGAR LAND
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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Industrial Info is tracking more than $5 billion in projects owned by solar power developer First Solar Incorporated (NASDAQ:FSLR) (Tempe, Arizona), not including projects owned by others that use the company's technology. The projects cover a range of geographies, but are mostly concentrated on the West Coast and Rocky Mountains regions.
Click on the image at right for a breakdown by market region of active First Solar projects.
Among First Solar's largest projects that are underway isn't a power facility, but a solar module manufacturing plant. The facility in Ohio is being constructed next to an existing First Solar manufacturing plant and will allow the company to produce its new Series 6 thin-film solar technology. The facility is more than 1 million square feet and will produce 1.2 gigawatts of solar modules annually. Construction began in summer 2018 and is expected to be completed by the end of this year. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.
First Solar claims that, once the plant is completed, the company will be the largest manufacturer of photovoltaic solar modules in the western hemisphere. The facility is coming at what seems an opportune time for U.S.-manufactured modules. Several states are increasing the amount of power mandated for renewables in their renewable energy portfolios. Solar power remains a key aspect of renewable energy buildout, particularly in areas where hydropower and windfarms are difficult to construct.
The facility is coming at a good time for another reason: In early 2018, the Trump administration placed a 30% tariff on imported solar modules, which caused imports to plummet. According to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), U.S. imports of solar modules increased in mid-2017, before the tariffs were announced, and were for several months above 1 million kilowatts (kW), before falling to less than 300,000 kW in the months following the tariff's effective date in February 2018.
While imports have subsequently risen since this time, the tariffs remain in effect. A 30% duty was in place for the first year of the tariffs, which will decrease 5% for each year the tariffs are in effect, which is four years. As a domestic manufacturer of solar panels, First Solar is at an advantage in terms of its own developments and the use of its technology by others.
First Solar's biggest project is still in the planning stage. Construction on the 300-megawatt (MW) Desert Quartzite solar farm in Southern California could begin next year. The project would be built across 4,800 acres and would supply power to Riverside County. The project has an estimated total investment value (TIV) of $600 million. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.
In Nevada, First Solar is underway with construction on the 129-MW Sunshine Valley photovoltaic solar plant near Pahrump. The plant will use First Solar's thin-film Cadmium Telluride technology. Construction began earlier this year and is expected to be completed by yearend. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.
Late last month, First Solar announced that its Sun Streams 2 project in Arizona will power data centers being built by Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) (Redmond, Washington) in Arizona. Construction on the solar farm could begin later this year. Construction on new buildings at Microsoft's data center in Goodyear, Arizona, on the outskirts of Phoenix, began earlier this year and is expected to wrap up next summer. For more information, see Industrial Info's project reports on the solar farm, and the PHX 10 and PHX 11 expansions at the data center.
First Solar plans to kick off construction on another large solar farm early next year. The 227-MW Odom solar farm will be built in Colbert County, Alabama. The location will allow First Solar to tie into existing 161-kW power lines. Strata Solar LLC is providing engineering, procurement and construction on the project, which has an estimated total investment value of $440 million. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.
First Solar also is expanding its international footprint. Among the company's projects outside the U.S. is the construction of a 40-MW solar plant in Marumont, Japan. The facility is planned to have a lithium-ion battery storage system with 27 megawatt-hours of capacity. Construction began late last year and is expected to wrap up next summer. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn. For more information on our coverage, send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.com or visit us online at http://www.industrialinfo.com.
Click on the image at right for a breakdown by market region of active First Solar projects.Among First Solar's largest projects that are underway isn't a power facility, but a solar module manufacturing plant. The facility in Ohio is being constructed next to an existing First Solar manufacturing plant and will allow the company to produce its new Series 6 thin-film solar technology. The facility is more than 1 million square feet and will produce 1.2 gigawatts of solar modules annually. Construction began in summer 2018 and is expected to be completed by the end of this year. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.
First Solar claims that, once the plant is completed, the company will be the largest manufacturer of photovoltaic solar modules in the western hemisphere. The facility is coming at what seems an opportune time for U.S.-manufactured modules. Several states are increasing the amount of power mandated for renewables in their renewable energy portfolios. Solar power remains a key aspect of renewable energy buildout, particularly in areas where hydropower and windfarms are difficult to construct.
The facility is coming at a good time for another reason: In early 2018, the Trump administration placed a 30% tariff on imported solar modules, which caused imports to plummet. According to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), U.S. imports of solar modules increased in mid-2017, before the tariffs were announced, and were for several months above 1 million kilowatts (kW), before falling to less than 300,000 kW in the months following the tariff's effective date in February 2018.
While imports have subsequently risen since this time, the tariffs remain in effect. A 30% duty was in place for the first year of the tariffs, which will decrease 5% for each year the tariffs are in effect, which is four years. As a domestic manufacturer of solar panels, First Solar is at an advantage in terms of its own developments and the use of its technology by others.
First Solar's biggest project is still in the planning stage. Construction on the 300-megawatt (MW) Desert Quartzite solar farm in Southern California could begin next year. The project would be built across 4,800 acres and would supply power to Riverside County. The project has an estimated total investment value (TIV) of $600 million. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.
In Nevada, First Solar is underway with construction on the 129-MW Sunshine Valley photovoltaic solar plant near Pahrump. The plant will use First Solar's thin-film Cadmium Telluride technology. Construction began earlier this year and is expected to be completed by yearend. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.
Late last month, First Solar announced that its Sun Streams 2 project in Arizona will power data centers being built by Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) (Redmond, Washington) in Arizona. Construction on the solar farm could begin later this year. Construction on new buildings at Microsoft's data center in Goodyear, Arizona, on the outskirts of Phoenix, began earlier this year and is expected to wrap up next summer. For more information, see Industrial Info's project reports on the solar farm, and the PHX 10 and PHX 11 expansions at the data center.
First Solar plans to kick off construction on another large solar farm early next year. The 227-MW Odom solar farm will be built in Colbert County, Alabama. The location will allow First Solar to tie into existing 161-kW power lines. Strata Solar LLC is providing engineering, procurement and construction on the project, which has an estimated total investment value of $440 million. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.
First Solar also is expanding its international footprint. Among the company's projects outside the U.S. is the construction of a 40-MW solar plant in Marumont, Japan. The facility is planned to have a lithium-ion battery storage system with 27 megawatt-hours of capacity. Construction began late last year and is expected to wrap up next summer. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn. For more information on our coverage, send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.com or visit us online at http://www.industrialinfo.com.
