First Solar revealed that Lightsource bp and bp have placed multi-year orders for up to 5.4 gigawatts (GW) of photovoltaic (PV) solar modules.
Lightsource bp and bp have placed firm orders for approximately 4.4GWDC of modules, with options for an additional 1GWDC.
Lightsource bp has agreed to procure up to 4.3GWDC of modules for its US utility-scale projects, and bp will procure up to 1.1GWDC to power their projects being developed by Lightsource bp. bp acquired the projects as part of its net zero ambition and target to grow its net developed renewable generating capacity to 20GW by 2025 and 50GW by 2030.
Planned deployments for both companies include projects in Arkansas, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
First Solar will deliver modules between 2023 and 2025 to support the companies’ solar development pipelines in the United States. First Solar has firm orders for 1.55GWDC of modules in 2023, 1.3GWDC in 2024, and 1.55GWDC in 2025.
“This landmark solar industry procurement deal is a testimony to Lightsource bp’s exponential growth in the United States, and our confidence in First Solar’s technology,” said Kevin Smith, chief executive officer, Americas, Lightsource bp.
First Solar also signed a MoU to explore opportunities to source electricity from generation assets developed, owned and operated by Lightsource bp in Ohio, where First Solar operates the Western Hemisphere’s largest solar manufacturing footprint.
Earlier this year, First Solar announced that it will invest $680 million to expand America’s domestic PV solar manufacturing capacity by 3.3GW annually, by building its third US manufacturing facility, in Lake Township, Ohio.
The new facility is expected to be commissioned in the first half of 2023 and when fully operational will scale the company’s Northwest Ohio footprint to a total annual capacity of 6GW.
First Solar also operates factories in Vietnam and Malaysia, and has previously announced plans to build a new 3.3GW factory in India that is expected to be commissioned in the second half of 2023. It aims to double the manufacturing capacity to 16GW by 2024.