It is the world's largest producer of thin-film solar modules, listed on NASDAQ, and an important manufacturer of thin-film photovoltaic modules of cadmium telluride in the world
First Solar is one of the world's leading manufacturers of solar photovoltaic modules with production facilities in the United States, Malaysia and Germany. By 2009, the company's production capacity had exceeded 1 gigawatt peak (GWp). At the same time, FirstSolar is also a major global manufacturer of cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film photovoltaic modules. Compared with traditional crystalline silicon technology, the use of patented cadmium telluride technology produces more electricity and has lower production costs. FirstSolar was the first in the industry to achieve a cost per watt (85 cents) and announced in June 2009 that it would reduce its manufacturing cost to 52-63 cents per watt by 2014.
FirstSolar于1999 year在亚利桑那州的坦佩市成立，其前身为Solar Cell公司（SCI），这一公司被True NorthPartners公司（该公司由沃尔顿家族拥有，沃尔顿家族是沃尔玛集团的所有人）所收购。Michael Ahearn先生出任FirstSolar的首席执行官。自2002年起，FirstSolar开始涉足光伏模块业务，其后制造能力一直稳步上升，公司也得到了长足发展。2005年，公司年产率达到25兆瓦峰值（MWp）。之后几年，公司继续扩大规模，在俄亥俄州的佩里斯堡新增了一条生产线，并在德国陆续设立了四条生产线。2006年FirstSolar的年产率达到75兆瓦，并宣布在马来西亚的居林（Kulim）再建设16条生产线。同年，FirstSolar在纳斯达克（Nasdaq）首次上市，并是纯太阳能行业中首家被列入史坦普500股价指数（S&P500）的公司。目前，公司在全球各地拥有超过4000名员工。
In the solar industry, First Solar pioneered a prepaid PV module recovery and recycling program. Any customer who purchases FirstSolar solar modules can make a recycling request at the end of the module's useful life, and First Solar will cover the cost of recovering and recycling these products. According to data provided by FirstSolar, 95% of semiconductor materials can be recycled through a closed reuse process and ultimately used to produce new PV modules. 90% of the glass can be used to make other products. With these measures, the company will take greater responsibility in the life cycle of its products, making every effort to prevent PV modules from mixing with other household waste in order to guarantee their recycling.
