Eco-efficient First Solar modules have 67% lower CO2 footprint
than Crystalline Silicon modules
PARIS & TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) today announced that Photosol, a French
photovoltaic (PV) solar energy company, has selected its high
performance, lower-carbon, thin film modules to power 14 utility-scale
solar power plants with a total capacity of 106.5 megawatts (MW)DC.
The projects - developed and owned by Photosol - are part of the
third procurement round initiated by France's Commission de Régulation
de l'Energie.
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The power plants will be located in central and southwest France, and
will range from 4.5MW to 43MW in capacity. The largest project will be
located in Burgundy, with Jayme da Costa Energie, a French subsidiary of
Jayme da Costa Group, a leading Portuguese engineering firm, providing
the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) for all the projects.
When completed, the plants are expected to supply almost 134,000
megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity to the French electricity grid in
their first year of operation; enough electricity to power 23,000
average French households and to displace 5,000 metric tons of carbon
dioxide per year. The plants' collective environmental footprint will be
lowered by approximately 67 percent, thanks to their use of First
Solar's high performance modules, which offer the smallest carbon
footprint, fastest energy payback time and lowest water use of all solar
technologies.
"As France continues to drive a sustained renewable energy program to
meet its CO2 reduction goals, while reliably addressing its
energy needs, we see a huge opportunity for utility-scale solar to make
a significant contribution by delivering reliable and affordable clean
electricity," said David Guinard, Managing Director of Photosol. "Our
decision to select First Solar's thin film modules was not only driven
by the cost-competitiveness and proven performance advantage, but also
by the significant environmental benefits that its module technology
offers."
These projects bring Photosol's total portfolio of PV plants, powered by
First Solar modules, to almost 155MW. Upon completion, they will take
First Solar's total installed capacity in Europe up to approximately
4.5GW.
"The progressive French policy on reducing the carbon footprint of its
solar energy program has set a new benchmark and serves as a precedent
for other countries to follow. It is a clear demonstration of how
evaluating the environmental footprint can be effectively embedded in a
competitive bidding process," said Stefan Degener, Regional Head of
Business Development at First Solar. "We congratulate Photosol on their
success, and thank both Photosol and Jayme da Costa for their continued
confidence in First Solar and our technology."
With over 13,500MW of PV modules sold worldwide, First Solar is a global
leader in providing comprehensive PV solar systems powered by its
advanced thin film modules. First Solar's presence in Europe dates back
to 2004, and the company continues to be a leading player in the
region's utility-scale PV market.
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.
About Photosol
Photosol, founded in 2008, is an independent renewable energy producer
specialized in large photovoltaic (PV) power plants (between 8 to 12 MW
each). The Company is present across the whole value chain as it
develops, finances, builds and operates photovoltaic power plants
in France. As of end of 2016, Photosol has invested nearly €300 million,
with 143MW of projects in operation, 106MW of projects in construction
and a pipeline of more than 250MW. In 2017 and 2018, Photosol intends to
build and operate additional 100MW. For more information, please visit www.photosol.fr.
About Jayme da Costa Group
Throughout its 100 years of activity, Jayme da Costa has become one of
the most respected companies within the engineering area. Its
achievements within the site civil, mechanical and electric
installations, as well as the conception and the manufacturing of LV and
MV electric equipment, have fostered its national and international
recognition. Working in renewable energies projects since the1980s
across Europe, Africa, Latin and South America, Jayme da Costa Group and
its regional branches has installed, participated and/or commissioned
over 500 MW of solar power plants, 3.5 GW of wind power and 300 MW of
small hydro power stations. For our new century that starts, Jayme da
Costa Group has a refreshing energy, aiming for the decarbonizing of the
energy sector by developing new markets, focusing on new skills and
solutions in order to achieve the overall objectives at the highest
level.
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 efficiency and balance of
systems 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 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; our ability to expand
manufacturing capacity worldwide; 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/20170216005624/en/
Media
For First Solar
Reuven Proença
First
Solar EMEA Communications
+971 (0)4 4559 410
reuven.proenca@firstsolar.com
or
First
Solar Investors
Steve Haymore
+1 602-414-9315
stephen.haymore@firstsolar.com
or
For
Photosol
Project development
David Guinard
+33
(0)1 70 22 50 97
david.guinard@photosol.fr
or
Photosol
Investors
Benoit Farines
+33 (0)1 70 22 50 97
benoit.farines@photosol.fr
or
For
Jayme da Costa
Luis Pedro Marques
+33 (0)1 46 96 56
22
pm@jaymedacosta.pt
or
Francisco
Ribeiro
+33 (0)1 46 96 56 22
fr@jaymedacosta.pt
Source: First Solar, Inc.
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