First Solar unveils its 2023 Sustainability Report; the first of its kind in the solar sector

First Solar Inc, a US-based Cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film photovoltaic (PV) profiles manufacturer, has set a new industry standard for transparency by publicly disclosing details of third-party social audits conducted across its global manufacturing sites. This is believed to be the first time such audits have been conducted in the solar manufacturing industry.

The solar industry is a huge aggregator for aluminium use and also propels the application of other critical minerals. But upon spending its lifetime, a solar panel is usually thrown away, generating a lot of non-retractable waste. It is becoming incessantly important to keep track of these end-of-life solar panels, which have a high potential for recycling. It is quite engaging to see First Solar building the first-ever steps for this social and sustainable transformation in the solar sector.

First Solar conducted third-party Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) Validated Assessment Program (VAP) audits at its United States, Malaysia, and Vietnam facilities. While the US and Vietnam facilities achieved the highest platinum status, the audits revealed that four service providers at the Malaysia facility did not meet First Solar's standards. The findings and corrective actions taken are detailed in the company's 2023 Sustainability Report. These social audits aim to identify and address existing and potential issues to improve workers' lives across the supply chain.

First Solar is the only major solar manufacturer that is a member of the RBA. Its integrated manufacturing process helps to eliminate risks and traceability challenges associated with outsourcing and the multiple supply tiers of conventional crystalline silicon solar manufacturing.

According to the report, First Solar's new manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu, India, which will begin commercial production in the second half of 2023, is expected to be the world's first net-zero water withdrawal solar manufacturing facility. The facility is located in a region of high baseline water stress and is designed to minimize its impact on local water resources and will rely entirely on tertiary-treated reverse osmosis water from the city's sewage treatment plant, with zero wastewater discharge.

The CEO, Mark Widmar, exclaimed: “We have chosen to highlight the audit findings openly, not only because of our commitment to transparency and Responsible Solar, but to raise awareness of modern slavery risks that hide in plain sight and to illustrate the value of an independent third-party social audit conducted in a credible, comprehensive manner.”

“The solar industry will anchor the global transition to a sustainable energy future, and we believe that it must do so responsibly. Our industry’s work to power the energy transition and enable the fight against climate change does not serve as credits to offset its social and human rights obligations,” Widmar added.

In 2022, First Solar achieved an 11% reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions intensity, an 8% reduction in manufacturing energy intensity, a 28% reduction in manufacturing waste intensity, and a 20% reduction in manufacturing water intensity compared to 2021. Furthermore, the firm received an 'AA' rating from MSCI ESG Research in 2022, the highest in the solar industry, and a CDP Climate Change 'A-' rating.

“As we continue our journey to growth we are doubling down on our commitment to Responsible Solar and meaningfully contributing to the fight against climate change. This includes designing our manufacturing facilities and products with sustainability in mind,” the CEO concluded with panache.

First Solar claims that its PV modules have the lowest carbon and water footprint of any commercially available PV module today and are the first to be included in the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) global registry for sustainable electronics. The company also leads a high-value recycling program that recovers closed-loop semiconductor materials for use in new modules and other materials, including glass, laminates and aluminium.