Corporate Social Responsibility writer for Justmeans, Antonio Pasolini is a journalist based in Brazil who writes about alternative energy, green living and sustainability. He also edits Energyrefuge.com, a top web destination for news and comment on renewable energy and Elpis.org, a recycled paper bag/magazine distributed from health food stores in London, formerly his hometown for over a decade....
Sustainable Energy Company Installs 10 Millionth Power Plant PV Module
First Solar, one of the world's largest purveyors of sustainable photovoltaic solar energy, has announced its team has reached a milestone when it recently installed its 10 millionth solar photovoltaic (PV) module in a utility-scale solar power project. The installation took place at the 550 megawatt (MW) Desert Sunlight Solar Farm solar project that the company is constructing for NextEra Energy Resources and GE Energy Financial Services.
The Desert Sunlight project is part of First Solar's 2.7 gigawatt (GW) utility-scale solar project pipeline in North America. Besides the environmental benefits, the project will create 7,000 supply chain and construction jobs in the next few years. The Desert Sunlight project has created an average of 400 construction jobs.
"It's fitting to install our 10 millionth EPC module at the Desert Sunlight project, which will set a solar record as well. When completed in 2015, it will be one of the two largest PV solar projects in the world, along with the 550 MW Topaz project we're building in San Luis Obispo County," said Jim Lamon, First Solar Senior Vice President of Engineering, Procurement and Construction and Operations and Maintenance.
So far, First Solar's cumulative production represents a peak generating capacity of more than 6 GW, which is enough to provide sustainable energy to more than three million homes and prevent the emission of four million tons of carbon dioxide per year.
Prospects for solar energy in the US are bright. A recent report on the solar industry revealed that despite a global oversupply of solar panels and China's competition, in the first quarter of 2012 the US industry has its second-best quarter ever in terms of installations. The total added capacity in the period was worth 506 megawatts, which is enough to power 350,000 homes. Industry analysts expect the total US installed solar power will increase 75 percent in 2012, with another 3.3 GW in installed power.
Image credit: First Solar
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