- Beats emissions intensity reduction
target and achieves 4 percent absolute water reduction
- Environmental impact of First Solar PV
systems is two-thirds lower than the average PV product
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.
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First Solar MediaReuven Proença+971 (0)4 4559
410reuven.proenca@firstsolar.comorFirst Solar InvestorsStephen
Haymore+1 602-414-9315stephen.haymore@firstsolar.com
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