First Solar breaks ground on 1.2-GW module factory in Ohio

First Solar Inc (NASDAQ:FSLR) said on Twitter on Friday it has broken ground on its 1.2-GW solar module factory in Ohio, plans for which it announced in April.

The US thin-film solar module maker previously said it will invest USD 400 million (EUR 339m) in the facility, which will be built in Lake Township, in proximity to its Perrysburg site with manufacturing capacity of 600 MW, and will produce its Series 6 modules. The factory is scheduled to reach full production in late 2019.

"Strong demand in the US for advanced solar technology, along with recent changes in US corporate tax policies, have encouraged our decision to grow First Solar’s US production operations," First Solar’s senior vice president of global manufacturing Mike Koralewski said in April.

The company has production plants in the US, Malaysia and Vietnam.

The new Ohio facility will triple First Solar's US manufacturing capacity to 1.8 GW.

(USD 1 = EUR 0.848)

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