First Solar announced a contract to supply 547 MW of Series 6 Plus Bifacial thin film photovoltaics (PV) modules to Birch Creek Energy.
The St. Louis-based renewable energy company plans to deploy the PV modules in projects across its development pipeline in the United States. First Solar did not reveal the financial details of the deal with Birch Creek Energy.
Dan Siegel, CEO of Birch Creek, said. “By choosing to buy modules from First Solar, we are strengthening our domestic strategy with a trusted partner that delivers a competitive product.”
“Birch Creek’s decision to partner with us is a validation of our technology and competitiveness, and the value of pricing and supply certainty,” said Georges Antoun, chief commercial officer, First Solar.
First Solar, which exited 2023 with 6 GW of annual US nameplate capacity, is the largest solar manufacturer in the Western Hemisphere.
First Solar’s operations supported an estimated 16,245 direct, indirect, and induced jobs in 2023, representing approximately $1.6 billion in annual labor income, according to a recent study commissioned by First Solar.
As First Solar grows to an expected 14 GW in annual US nameplate capacity in 2026, the company is forecast to support an estimated 30,060 direct, indirect, and induced jobs across the country. The study projects that every direct job First Solar supports in 2026 will support 7.3 jobs nationwide.
In addition to expanding its Ohio footprint to over 7 GW of annual nameplate capacity this year, First Solar expects to invest over $2 billion in new manufacturing facilities in Alabama and Louisiana, which are expected to come online in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
First Solar is also on track to commission approximately $450 million in R&D innovation infrastructure in Perrysburg, Ohio, in the second half of this year.