First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) today announced that it has achieved one gigawatt (GW) DC of photovoltaic (PV) solar capacity shipped to India, making it the first thin film PV module manufacturer to achieve this milestone in the country.
Sujoy Ghosh, First Solar’s Country Head for India, in a statement said, “We thank our customers and stakeholders in India for placing their trust in First Solar. They are benefiting from differentiated technology that has proven its superior energy yield by delivering 5-9 per cent more energy, compared to polysilicon-based modules in India for its customers over the past four years.”
Contrary to perception, he said, “Thin film modules today have higher conversion efficiency and requires lesser land per MW, compared to poly silicon-based modules. Our technology roadmap has us on a path to even greater conversion efficiencies, which will enable solar plants to be even more competitive against conventional energy sources.”
First Solar has been present in India since 2011, and provides thin film modules to solar developers. The company also self-develops utility scale solar PV projects, and through its Indian subsidiary have 200 MW of projects with contracted long-term PPAs under development and operation in India.