First Solar Has Announced Cumulative Production Has Reached 5GW

US-based solar firm First Solar has announced cumulative production has reached 5GW, or 66 million solar modules, capable of generating enough clean electricity to power approximately 2.5 million homes. The company began commercial production in 2002 and has since grown to become one of the world's largest solar module manufacturers, with 36 production lines on three continents. First Solar recently announced that implementing technologies and processes derived from its research and development (R&D) program produced a world-record 17.3% efficient cadmium telluride solar cell in July, resulting in average module conversion efficiency of 12.4% from its best-performing production lines during the third quarter. Efficiency gains have also enabled the company to begin production of 87 watt modules, which produce higher amounts of electricity when installed in the field. Five GW of solar generation displaces 3.3 million metric tons of CO2e annually, the equivalent of taking 650,000 average cars off the road or planting 84 million trees each year. Source: www.digitimes.com