First Solar Inaugurates Its First of Four Solar Module

First Solar, Inc. recently announced that the first of its four solar module manufacturing plants being constructed at the Kulim Hi Tech Park in Kedah, Malaysia was formally inaugurated by YAB Dato’ Seri Ustaz Azizan Bin Abdul Razak, Chief Minister of Kedah Darul Aman and Bruce Sohn, president of First Solar. Also participating in the event from First Solar were Heiner Eichermueller, vice president of global manufacturing, and Tan Poh Beng, plant manager of First Solar Malaysia.

“Dedicating this plant today represents a major milestone for First Solar. Our expansion into Asia enables us to achieve cost reductions through economies of scale in a high quality manufacturing environment,” said Bruce Sohn, president of First Solar. “I would like to thank our talented and dedicated new associates in Kedah for their role in the successful start up of our production facility, marked by the recent commencement of commercial module production. Our new manufacturing facilities in Kedah will play a vital role in helping the company achieve our stated goals and objectives.”

First Solar’s investment of $680 million (RM 2.2 billion) will bring more than 2,000 jobs in management, engineering, accounting, human resources and factory operations when all four plants are fully operational. The Malaysian Government has granted First Solar a multi-year income tax holiday, and the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (MIDA) is supporting cross training for the workforce at First Solar’s facilities in the United States and Germany.

“The leaders of Kedah are pleased to have First Solar locate their first Asia-based solar module manufacturing facilities here in our state. We remain committed and supportive of their mission to enable clean, affordable solar energy. We are confident that all Malaysians will benefit from the quality of jobs that this facility brings to our community and applaud First Solar’s commitment to environmental responsibility,” said YAB Dato’ Seri Ustaz Azizan Bin Abdul Razak, Chief Minister of Kedah Darul Aman.