13 April 2011

First Solar launches modules for 10–30kW commercial power systems

First Solar Inc of Tempe, AZ, USA, which makes thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules based on cadmium telluride (CdTe) as well as providing engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services, has announced the availability of its modules for use in 10–30kW PV systems.

Since its market debut in 2002, First Solar and its business partners have focused on commercial PV systems larger than 30kW (DC). The firm says that, with the introduction of its latest, high-efficiency Series 3 modules, as well as increasing demand for commercial systems below 30kW, it is responding to demand by serving this growing market segment.

“Commercial rooftops in the 10–30kW range represent a multi-gigawatt market globally,” says TK Kallenbach, president of First Solar’s Components Business Group. “This expansion gives our customers additional flexibility to serve smaller- and medium-sized commercial and industrial rooftops. It is a natural extension of our thin-film module capability and allows our customers to continue to learn and apply innovative technology and installation techniques to a growing market,” he adds.

“The combination of economic and environmental attributes of First Solar modules will prove just as attractive to customers of 10-30kW PV systems as they have to customers of bigger systems,” believes Stephan Hansen, managing director of First Solar GmbH of Mainz, Germany, the firm's European sales and marketing organization. “This offering is open both to existing First Solar customers and to new customers.”

More than 3GW of First Solar modules are already installed worldwide, displacing more than 1.5 million metric tons of CO2 emissions per year. About one-third are installed in commercial rooftop systems. Typical 10–30kW PV systems installed consist of 125–375 First Solar modules, require 90–270 square meters of roof space and displacing 4–12 metric tons of CO2 per year.

First Solar claims that systems using its modules typically have high annual energy yields under real-world conditions (producing more energy than competing systems with the same power rating) and offer environmental benefits including an industry-leading carbon footprint and a prefunded module collection and recycling program that enables the recycling of all modules at no additional cost.

First Solar does not sell directly to the public. A list of business partners that are authorized to sell its modules as well as design, install and sell systems using its modules can be found at www.firstsolar.com/en/developers_integrators.php.

Tags: First Solar Thin-film photovoltaic CdTe

Visit: www.firstsolar.com

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