Energix places its largest PV procurement order with First Solar

Energix Renewables has agreed to procure 5 GWdc of First Solar thin film solar modules for projects in Israel, Poland, and the United States. These solar panels will be delivered between 2026 and 2030. Energix is one of Israel’s largest renewable energy companies with a portfolio of more than 7 GW of projects under development in Israel, Poland and the United States — and this is its largest ever procurement deal.

“As we grow our pipeline, we want a trusted partner that will not compromise on quality, its commitments, or principles, and that partner is First Solar,” said Asa (Asi) Levinger, CEO, Energix. “This deal, our largest ever, strongly reflects the long-term strategic partnership we share with First Solar.

This deal is also a signifier of Energix’s long-term growth and a growing emphasis on solar development in the United States.

“With shared goals and a united vision for a sustainable energy future, this deal perfectly suits our needs, paving the way for groundbreaking achievements and reinforcing our commitment to our stakeholders,” Levinger says.

Under the terms of the agreement, (1) Energix will take delivery of modules on an Free Carrier (FCA) basis from a location near the relevant First Solar factories, and (2) Energix has the right to increase or decrease the total volume to be procured under the agreement by 200 MWDC each year during the 5-year term (with any such increase subject to module availability). 

“This is another example of a large, sophisticated player choosing to de-risk its development portfolio by working with us,” said Georges Antoun, chief commercial officer, First Solar. “They recognize that they do not simply get a high-quality, high-performance, responsibly-produced PV module, but a trusted partner and long-term pricing and supply certainty, which are rarities in the solar industry.”

Energix has also contracted First Solar Recycling Services to manage end-of-life handling of decommissioned modules. Prior to this deal, the company has placed over 3.5 GWdc of orders for First Solar technology since 2017. End-of-life modules from Energix projects will be processed by First Solar’s pioneering high value recycling program, which provides closed-loop semiconductor recovery for use in new modules, while also recovering other materials including aluminum, glass, and laminates.

First Solar recently became one of the first PV manufacturers to have its product included in the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) global registry for sustainable electronics.

First Solar is the only one of the world’s ten largest solar manufacturers to be a member of the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA), the world’s largest industry coalition dedicated to supporting the rights and well-being of workers and communities in the global supply chain, and the company has zero tolerance for forced labor in its manufacturing or its supply chains.

First Solar is investing approximately $1.3 billion in expanding its US manufacturing footprint from over 6.5 GWdc of annual nameplate capacity currently to approximately 10.9 GWdc by 2026. In addition to the $1.1 billion expected investment in a new 3.5 GWdc facility in Alabama, the company has also embarked on a $185 million expansion of its existing manufacturing footprint in Ohio.

First Solar also announced an investment of up to $370 million for a dedicated research and development (R&D) innovation center in Perrysburg, Ohio, which is expected to be completed in 2024.