First Solar, Inc. has opened a new 1.3-million-square-foot research and development (R&D) center in Lake Township, Ohio. Called the Jim Nolan Center for Solar Innovation, this complex stands as the largest facility of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. Dedicated to James “Jim” F. Nolan, former board member and pioneer of the company’s cadmium telluride (CdTe) technology, the center is a tribute to his legacy and a commitment to the future.
About the new solar research and development center
The center houses a high-tech pilot manufacturing line that facilitates the production of full-size prototypes of tandem and thin-film photovoltaic tandem and thin-film photovoltaic modules. This capability not only optimizes production, but also significantly accelerates innovation cycles, freeing First Solar from previous constraints at its Perrysburg facility.
According to Mark Widmar, CEO of First Solar, this breakthrough is crucial to maintaining U.S. competitiveness against China’s innovation efforts in thin-film solar.
Jim Nolan Center for Solar Innovation
The Jim Nolan Center represents an investment of nearly $500 million and is just one part of First Solar’s ongoing commitment to innovation, which totals nearly $2 billion in R&D. In addition, the company anticipates the activation of a line of development of perovskite development line in Perrysburg during the second half of 2024. This expansion not only solidifies First Solar’s technology leadership, but also boosts the local economy with the creation of 300 new jobs by 2025 in the Ohio area.
Expansion doesn’t stop in Ohio, as First Solar also plans new manufacturing facilities in Alabama and Louisiana, projecting to increase its U.S. production capacity to 14 GW by 2026. This growth is a reflection of the positive economic and employment impact of the company, as demonstrated by a recent study by the University of Louisiana at Lafayettewhich indicates that First Solar generated approximately 16,245 jobs in 2023, with a projection of 30,060 jobs by 2026.
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Source and photo: First Solar
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