First Solar Takes Top Accolades at 2014 International Solar Industry Awards

MAINZ, Germany/TEMPE, Ariz. – September 24, 2014 – First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) has been honored for its industry leadership, taking home top accolades at the International Solar Industry Awards in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. It was awarded the top recognition for companies, earning a Solar Award for Excellence, as well as the Thin Film Innovation Award. The annual Awards - judged by a panel of 100 industry experts and presented by Solar International - recognize innovative products and services, and technological excellence across the solar value chain.  

“The industry is changing rapidly and the people within the value chain are the best at judging excellence in their field. First Solar was awarded the Thin Film Innovation Award in recognition of its achievements in increasing thin-film efficiencies and driving costs of solar energy down. The Award for Excellence in the category Company is a testament to First Solar’s long-term commitment to provide sustainable energy solutions in order to meet the world’s rising demand for electricity.” said David Ridsdale, Editor-in-Chief of Solar International.

With more than nine gigawatts installed worldwide, First Solar is a leading global provider of comprehensive photovoltaic (PV) solar energy solutions. The company’s success is a result of its longstanding track record in manufacturing, developing, financing, engineering, constructing or operating the world’s leading sources of sustainable, solar energy. A recognized industry leader in research and development (R&D), the company has consistently achieved world records in cadmium-telluride (CdTe) efficiency, the most recent being a 21 percent cell efficiency record announced in August 2014.

“We are honored to receive these two awards and consider them an important recognition of our efforts to deliver clean, reliable and affordable energy to the world,” said Christopher Burghardt, Vice President for Europe, at First Solar. “We are seeing growing evidence of a significant transition from conventional to renewable energy that is redefining the global power generation portfolio. We aim to shape our success in this dynamic environment, by continuing to leverage our ability to innovate and create solutions that are based on proven technology and help address specific needs.”