5.4GW! First Solar signed the largest thin film module supply agreement to date with bp and others

　　First Solar will provide photovoltaic project developer Lightsource bp and energy giant bp (British Petroleum) with up to 5.4GW of thin film modules, which is First Solar's largest order so far.

　　Lightsource bp and bp have confirmed component orders of about 4.4GWdc, in addition to 1GW flexible orders. The two companies plan to deploy solar energy in various U.S. states including Arkansas, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas.

　　Lightsource bp and bp signed a multi-year agreement with First Solar, and they will benefit from First Solar's cadmium telluride thin film module technology update. Lightsource bp will purchase 4.3GWdc components for U.S. utility projects, and bp will purchase 1.1GWdc components for the power station being developed by Lightsource bp.

　　According to the agreement, First Solar's fixed orders in 2023 will be 1.55GWdc, in 2024 it will be 1.3GWdc, and in 2025 it will be 1.55GWdc.

　　Earlier this year, bp acquired 9GW solar asset projects in 12 states in the United States. This transaction is another transaction since then. These projects will be developed by Lightsource bp, which owns 50% of the shares of Lightsource bp. bp hopes that the renewable energy mix will reach 50GW in 2030 and achieve net zero emissions in 2050.

　　For Lightsource, before signing the module supply agreement, the company received $1.8 billion in financing and raised its solar development target to 25GW in 2025. Kevin Smith, CEO of Lightsource bp Americas, said: "This brings competitive electricity prices to our customers."

　　In addition to module supply, First Solar also signed a memorandum of understanding to explore opportunities to purchase electricity from Lightsource bp's Ohio project. Currently, First Solar has two manufacturing plants in Ohio, and the company is committed to achieving the goal of 100% renewable energy power supply for its global manufacturing plants by 2028.

　　First Solar announced the news of its third manufacturing plant in Ohio in June. The plant will be put into commercial operation in 2023, which will bring First Solar's US business to 6GW. According to legislation passed by the House of Representatives last week, First Solar's US manufacturing operations can receive important policy support.

　　In addition to existing plants in Vietnam and Malaysia, First Solar also plans to build a 3.3GWdc module plant in India to consolidate overseas manufacturing operations.

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　　Solar power generation system with lithium battery energy storage system is a very promising clean energy.