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Beats emissions intensity reduction target and achieves 4 percent
absolute water reduction
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Environmental impact of First Solar PV systems is two-thirds lower
than the average PV product
TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 7, 2017--
First
Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) today released its annual sustainability
report which highlights the company’s environmental and safety
performance progress, industry-leading utility-scale PV project
development practices, and the anticipated sustainability and
performance advantages of the company’s next generation Series 6 module
technology.
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Infographic provided by First Solar, Inc.
Since 2008, the company has almost halved its greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions intensity, surpassing its goal of a 35 percent company-wide
reduction by 2016. The decline in emissions intensity was the combined
result of an increase in module efficiency, manufacturing throughput and
capacity utilization, decreased emissions intensity of purchased grid
electricity, along with energy conservation and low carbon initiatives.
Data released as part of First
Solar’s 2017 Sustainability Report shows that it has also reduced
its manufacturing energy intensity by 30 percent from 2009 to 2016.
Notably, although its production volume increased by 24 percent in 2016,
First Solar reduced its absolute water withdrawals by 4 percent and
saved more than 185 million liters (approximately 49 million gallons) by
recycling water at its manufacturing facility in Malaysia.
“Thanks to our thin film technology and efficient manufacturing process,
the environmental impact of a First Solar PV system is about two-thirds
lower than the average PV system available in the market today.† In
fact, our new Series 6 module technology is expected to further increase
that gap,” said Mark Widmar, First Solar’s Chief Executive Officer. “In
other words, we now deliver high-performance PV modules that can
successfully compete against silicon panels, while also delivering the
fastest energy payback time and the lowest lifecycle impact in the
industry. This is no small achievement.”
Significantly, First Solar has also tracked a 74 percent reduction in
manufacturing waste intensity, from 35.1 grams per watt produced in
2009, to 9.1 grams per watt in 2016. Its recycling program – unique to
the PV module manufacturing industry – recovers 90 percent of the
semiconductor material and glass from decommissioned modules.
“The reduction in our environmental footprint is entirely by design; the
result of taking a long-term view on continuously improving our
environmental performance while delivering a competitive, reliable,
high-quality product,” said Alex Heard, First Solar’s Senior Vice
President of Global Technical Services. “Our commitment remains stronger
than ever, and we will continue to work to improve our performance,
maintaining the benchmark for the rest of the industry.”
First Solar’s 2017 Sustainability Report and its Sustainability Metrics
are available at: http://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Sustainability-Documents/FirstSolar_SustainabilityReport.ashx
† Wyss,
Franziska, Frischknecht, Rolf, de Wild-Scholten, Mariska, und Philippe
Stolz. “PEF screening report of electricity from photovoltaic panels in
the context of the EU Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules
(PEFCR) Pilots v.2.0”, 24. April 2016.
About First Solar, Inc.
First Solar is a leading global provider of comprehensive photovoltaic
(PV) solar systems which use its advanced module and system technology.
The company’s integrated power plant solutions deliver an economically
attractive alternative to fossil-fuel electricity generation today. From
raw material sourcing through end-of-life module recycling, First
Solar’s renewable energy systems protect and enhance the environment.
For more information about First Solar, please visit www.firstsolar.com.
For First Solar Investors
This release contains forward-looking statements which are made pursuant
to safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include statements, among
other things, concerning: effects on our financial statements and
guidance resulting from certain module manufacturing changes and
associated restructuring activities; our business strategy, including
anticipated trends and developments in and management plans for our
business and the markets in which we operate; future financial results,
operating results, revenues, gross margin, operating expenses, products,
projected costs (including estimated future module collection and
recycling costs), warranties, solar module technology and cost reduction
roadmaps, restructuring, product reliability, investments in
unconsolidated affiliates and capital expenditures; our ability to
continue to reduce the cost per watt of our solar modules; our ability
to expand manufacturing capacity worldwide; our ability to reduce the
costs to construct PV solar power systems; research and development
programs and our ability to improve the conversion efficiency of our
solar modules; sales and marketing initiatives; and competition. These
forward-looking statements are often characterized by the use of words
such as "estimate," "expect," "anticipate," "project," "plan," "intend,"
"seek," "believe," "forecast," "foresee," "likely," "may," "should,"
"goal," "target," "might," "will," "could," "predict," "continue" and
the negative or plural of these words and other comparable terminology.
Forward-looking statements are only predictions based on our current
expectations and our projections about future events. You should not
place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We undertake
no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements for any
reason. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual
results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by these statements. These
factors include, but are not limited to, the matters discussed in Item
1A "Risk Factors," of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K,
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and other filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170807005999/en/
Source: First Solar, Inc.
First Solar Media
Reuven Proença
+971 (0)4 4559 410
reuven.proenca@firstsolar.com
or
First
Solar Investors
Stephen Haymore
+1 602-414-9315
stephen.haymore@firstsolar.com