First Solar Announces 380MW Order Increase

First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) announced that it has signed agreements with seven customers for a 380-megawatts (MW) increase in orders for 2011 over previously announced volumes. The expanded contracts are with existing customers and will serve predominantly European markets, the company said.

“The additional volumes will allow First Solar to continue to scale and contribute to making solar electricity more affordable globally,” said Stephan Hansen, managing director of First Solar’s European sales and customer service organization.

The new contracts were all signed in recent weeks and follow announcements that First Solar is planning to add manufacturing capacity in Germany and France in order to better meet local demand.

80-MW Ontario Project Complete

First Solar, Inc. and project partner Enbridge, Inc. Enbridge Inc. (NYSE: ENB) separately announced the commissioning of the 80-MW Sarnia Solar Project in Ontario, Canada.

The project is currently the largest operating photovoltaic facility in the world.

First Solar, a leading manufacturer of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels and provider of solar solutions, will operate and maintain the Sarnia Solar Project for owner Enbridge under a long-term contract. First Solar developed, engineered, and constructed the facility, using its thin film solar panels.

Enbridge will sell the power output of the facility to the Ontario Power Authority pursuant to 20-year Power Purchase Agreements under the terms of the Ontario government’s Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program.