First Solar to Supply Modules for Australia’s Largest Solar PV Installation.

April 30, 2009 – Vol.14 No.6

First Solar to Supply Modules for Australia’s Largest Solar PV Installation.

The Tempe, Arizona, Arizona-based company has announced it will supply photovoltaic (PV) modules to Solar Shop Australia, Pty Ltd. (Solar Shop), for a 1 megawatt (MW) DC rooftop project. The solar power system, installed on six separate buildings at the Adelaide Showground in South Australia. The rooftop system is being commissioned by the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of South Australia.

“This project marks the beginning of what we expect to be a very promising future for solar energy in Australia,” said John Carrington, First Solar executive vice president of marketing and business development. “Australia’s policy initiatives have set the stage for the growth of affordable renewable energy, and First Solar’s advanced, cost-effective solar technology is a perfect fit.”

Solar Shop, in an alliance partnership with building and engineering company Build Environs Pty Ltd., will design and construct the 1 MW installation, which is expected to displace approximately 1500 tons of CO2 every year. Construction is anticipated to begin immediately and is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2009. The power produced by the solar installation will be used predominantly at the Adelaide Showground site, displacing power generated from conventional sources.

First Solar is the world’s largest manufacturer of thin film solar modules. The Company recently announced that it has produced 1 gigawatt of its PV modules since beginning commercial production. In addition, First Solar says it has the lowest manufacturing cost in the industry, having broken the $1 per watt price barrier by reducing its manufacturing cost to 98 cents.

Solar Shop Australia is the largest provider of grid-connected solar systems in Australia, having installed 25 percent of all systems in 2008. (4/29/09)

Links:

First Solar
http://www.firstsolar.com

Solar Shop Australia
http://www.solarshop.com.au

--- First Solar to Expand Sempra Generation Solar Power Plant by 48 Megawatts.

--- First Solar to Develop 30 MW Solar Power Plant for Tri-State.

Disclaimer, Forward-Looking or Safe Harbor Statement on original press release: Yes