Recently, US photovoltaic giant First Solar announced the official commissioning of its new factory located in Iberia Parish, Louisiana. Representing a total investment of $1.1 billion, the facility boasts an annual production capacity of 3.5 gigawatts (GW).
As First Solar’s fifth US manufacturing site, the factory is notable for its dual value in technological innovation and job creation. Its production process utilizes computer vision and deep learning technologies to automatically detect product defects, significantly improving yield. The plant is expected to create over 800 manufacturing jobs, with an average annual salary of approximately $90,000 – more than three times the local average wage.
An economic analysis by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette indicates that once operating at full capacity, the factory will directly increase Iberia Parish’s GDP by 4.4%, establishing itself as a core engine for regional economic growth. Another significant advantage is supply chain localization. The glass used in production is sourced from Illinois and Ohio, while the steel is produced in Mississippi and processed in Louisiana, ensuring autonomy in key supply chain segments.
Reportedly, construction of the factory was completed in July this year. Its commissioning accelerates First Solar’s US capacity expansion. The company previously disclosed targets to reach 14 GW of US annual capacity by 2026, increasing further to 17.7 GW by 2027. This newly added capacity will be crucial to achieving these goals.
