SUBSCRIBE
PROFILE

First Solar inaugurates the largest solar R&D center in the Western Hemisphere

First Solar has inaugurated a research and development center in Lake Township, Ohio, marking a strategic step towards strengthening its leadership in thin-film photovoltaics.

Share:

Investissement stratégique dans la R&D solaire

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90$/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90$/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

START NOW — 4.90$/month

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 $/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99$/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

SUBSCRIBE — 99$/year

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 $/year from the second year.

Sign up for free to unlock this article

First Solar has inaugurated a new research and development (R&D) center in Lake Township, Ohio. The Jim Nolan Center for Solar Innovation is the largest of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, covering 1.3 million square feet. The center includes a high-tech pilot production line, enabling the production of full-scale prototypes of thin-film and tandem photovoltaic modules.

A strategic investment

This project is part of an investment of around half a billion dollars in R&D infrastructure in the United States. Prior to this inauguration, First Solar used a manufacturing line in Perrysburg for the development of its latest-phase products, limiting flexibility and creating constraints during critical tool shutdowns.

Accelerating innovation

The commissioning of this new center should speed up innovation cycles by eliminating these limitations. According to Mark Widmar, CEO of First Solar, “thin films are the next technological battleground for the solar industry, as they are essential to the commercialization of tandem devices”. This initiative is designed to maintain the United States’ strategic advantage in thin film.

Projects and prospects

In addition to the Jim Nolan Center, First Solar plans to commission a perovskite development line at its Perrysburg campus in the second half of 2024. The company recently achieved a new world record with a 23.1% efficient CdTe cell, certified by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

Economic impact and growth

First Solar expects its R&D infrastructure investments to create around 300 new jobs by 2025, the majority of which will be located at the Jim Nolan Center. According to a recent study by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, the company supported around 16,245 direct, indirect and induced jobs in 2023, representing around $1.6 billion in annual labor income. With a projected annual U.S. nameplate capacity of 14 GW by 2026, First Solar is expected to support around 30,060 jobs across the country, representing $2.8 billion in annual labor income.

  • Popular on energynews.pro
Syrian tanker docks in Trieste, first crude delivery in 14 years
Egypt signs new deals to revive domestic gas production
$5.6bn battery plant to be built in Morocco still reliant on coal power
QatarEnergy awards Samsung contract for 2,000 MW solar plant in Dukhan
ACWA Power secures 800MW in Morocco with technical support from Gotion High-Tech
Global solar photovoltaic installers market to reach $651bn by 2030
The solar photovoltaic installers sector will grow by 15 % annually through 2030, driven by residential demand, public incentives and increasing integration into urban projects.
Release by Scatec expands hybrid solar plants to 64.4 MW in Cameroon
The Norwegian subsidiary has launched the second phase of its projects in Maroua and Guider, bringing total capacity to 64.4 MW of solar and 38.2 MWh of storage with an annual target of 141.5 GWh.
Billion Watts launches 2026 solar-storage project in Australia with six more planned
Billion Watts begins construction on its first solar-plus-storage project in Australia, scheduled for 2026, relying on an international consortium and a strategy focused on the volatility of the national electricity market.
Longroad Energy secures financing for its 400 MW solar project in Texas
Longroad Energy has closed financing and started construction of the 1000 Mile Solar project in Texas, with a capacity of 400 MWdc, supported by Meta and an international banking consortium.
Sunrun raises $510mn through new securitization, surpassing $1.5bn in quarterly debt
Sunrun completed its fifth securitization deal of 2025, bringing non-recourse debt raised in the third quarter to over $1.5bn.
Odyssey receives $7.5 million from BII to fund solar mini-grids in Nigeria
Odyssey Energy Solutions secures $7.5 million from British International Investment to support access to solar equipment under Nigeria’s DARES programme.
Cameroon boosts solar capacity with additional 28.6 MWp in Maroua and Guider
The Cameroonian government launches the extension of two solar plants in the Far North, increasing their combined capacity to 64.4 MWp, with support from international investors.
Statkraft sells 1.5 GWp portfolio in India to Serentica Renewables
Statkraft has signed an agreement to sell solar and wind assets in India to Serentica Renewables, marking a strategic refocus on Europe and South America.
UNITe wins two photovoltaic projects in Puy-de-Dôme
Independent power producer UNITe has been selected to develop two solar power plants on municipal land in Avèze and Malauzat, following a call for tenders by the French Energy Regulatory Commission.
First half of 2025 dominated by solar despite Washington policy pushback
Solar and storage accounted for 82% of new U.S. power capacity in early 2025, despite federal measures slowing their expansion.
Statkraft France secures new 15.5 MWc solar contract in Marne
Statkraft France won a 15.5 MWc solar project in Mourmelon-le-Grand during the latest national tender round, bringing its total awarded capacity to nearly 70 MWc in less than a year.
Hungary and Poland accelerate solar and battery growth in Central Europe
Solar growth in Central Europe has doubled that of the European Union since 2019, reshaping the energy mix and boosting battery manufacturing in the region.
Cordelio Power commissions 150 MW solar plant in Missouri
Canadian energy producer Cordelio Power has completed commissioning of its Winfield solar project, a 150 MW facility backed by a 15-year contract with Microsoft and a $313mn structured financing deal.
Anza secures over 2 GW of solar modules in 2025 amid new tax constraints
Platform Anza surpassed its 2024 volume in just eight months, responding to developers’ urgency to secure projects ahead of regulatory and fiscal changes expected in 2026.
AGCO signs 10-year deal with BRUC for solar supply in Europe
US-based AGCO has signed a ten-year virtual power purchase agreement with BRUC, covering a 100 MW solar project in Spain, to secure part of its European energy consumption.
Innergex secures 85 MW in France with six agrivoltaic solar projects
Canadian developer Innergex has won all six projects of the Grenier des Essences portfolio for a total of 85 MW, strengthening its position in France’s ground-mounted solar sector.
Canadian Solar launches low-carbon modules reaching 285 kg COâ‚‚eq/kW
Canadian Solar unveils its new low-carbon solar modules integrating heterojunction cells and thinner wafers, achieving up to 24.4% efficiency and a peak power output of 660 Wp.
Elmya and Atlantica partner to develop 4 GW of energy projects in the United States
Elmya Energy and Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure have created a joint venture targeting 4 GW of renewable energy projects in the United States, focused on the ERCOT and WECC markets.
Louth Callan completes deployment of 28 MW solar park in Maine
Louth Callan has completed the Mousam River solar project in Sanford, marking a key milestone in the deployment of utility-scale energy infrastructure across the United States.
Georgia Power receives approval for 1,068 MW of new solar projects in Georgia
The state regulator has approved five new solar power purchase agreements to support growing demand under the CARES programme, targeting industrial and commercial clients.

Log in to read this article

You'll also have access to a selection of our best content.