Two’s company – Second solar panel manufacturer passes 5 GIGAwatts
Frameless First Solar panels
Just over thirty days since Suntech Power announced it had passed 5 gigawatts (GW) of solar panel production, upstart First Solar announced it has also passed the benchmark.
First Solar reached the historic 5GW production tally on November 17, 2011. By way of reference, the five GW capacity is twice that of Bayswater power station in NSW.
Interestingly, it achieved the jump from 4GW to 5GW in just a few short months, having passed the 4GW point in early June. Beginning production in 2002, this rapid growth has seen the company grow into a solar industry behemoth that now boasts 36 production lines on three continents.
Whilst First Solar is finding it harder to compete with silicon panels now that the price of poly-silicon is at record lows, the company has many large utility scale orders on the books. The achievement of the benchmark by two companies shows just how far the industry has come in the last five years.
Whilst First Solar panels are not usually employed in residential settings, Greenforce Energy recommends Schott Solar ASI and Schuco panels as thin film alternatives.
