First Solar said that Lightsource bp has placed an order for 4 GWDC of its advanced thin film solar modules. 

The modules are scheduled to be delivered between 2026 and 2028. They are expected to power Lightsource bp projects in the United States. 

This latest deal follows a 2021 order by Lightsource bp for up to 4.3 GWDC.

It includes orders for First Solar’s Series 6 Plus and next-generation Series 7 modules. The modules are being designed and developed at R&D centers in California and Ohio.

“The U.S. solar industry is at a pivotal moment, poised to expand at an exponential rate with the Inflation Reduction Act serving as the catalyst,” said Kevin Smith, chief executive officer, Americas, Lightsource bp.

Lightsource bp is also expected to use First Solar’s recycling program to manage modules at the end of their operating lives. First Solar provides closed-loop semiconductor recovery for use in new modules, and also recovers materials including aluminum, glass, and laminates.

First Solar is expanding its U.S. manufacturing capacity, with a third factory expected to come online in Ohio in the first half of 2023. A fourth factory is under construction in Alabama and is expected to be commissioned by 2025. Both sites will produce the Series 7 modules ordered by Lightsource bp. 

First Solar’s new $1.1 billion Alabama factory and $185 million expansion of its Ohio manufacturing footprint are expected to bring its total investment in domestic manufacturing to more than $4 billion. The company’s annual U.S. nameplate manufacturing capacity is forecast to expand to 10.6 GWDC by 2026.