Updated November 21, 2025 – First Solar has inaugurated its new US$1.1 billion manufacturing facility in Iberia Parish, Louisiana. The milestone is not just a win for the company, but also the entire U.S. solar manufacturing landscape. The Louisiana facility spans about 2.4 million square feet and is expected to produce 3.5 GW of solar modules annually once fully ramped. This is thanks to First Solar’s advanced Series 7 panel technology and integrated design. Beside the rows of high-tech production lines at the Louisiana manufacturing facility, First Solar also boasts of the impact it is making to the Iberia Parish community. This includes over 700 people already at work, and an 826 target by end-year. Other than the jobs, the facility also rakes up tax revenue to Louisiana.
Project Factsheet for the First Solar Manufacturing Facility in Iberia Parish, Louisiana
Developer/Owner: First Solar Inc.
Location: Iberia Parish, Louisiana
Type: Solar module manufacturing facility
Investment: US$ 1.1 billion
Built Area: 2.4 million sq ft
Annual Production Capacity: 3.5 GW of series 7 modules
Workforce: 700 already signed up. Scaling target to 826 by end-year.
Technology: Series 7 thin-film solar modules, integrated with AI-driven computer vision for quality control.
Long-Term Output Goals: Supports First Solar’s plan to reach 14 GW domestic manufacturing by 2026 and 17.7 GW by 2027.
Impact: 300 construction jobs. Long-term manufacturing jobs. Local tax revenue.
Project Timeline
August 2023: First Solar announces $1.1 billion investment for the Iberia Parish manufacturing facility.
2023-2024: Land acquisition, facility design, and permitting completed. Site construction also kicked off.
July 2025: First Solar begins module production at the plant.
November 2025: First Solar inaugurates the Iberia Parish manufacturing plant.
End-2025: Workforce expected to grow to 826 amid production ramping up.
2026 Onward: Plant ramps toward full 3.5 GW capacity.
Project Overview
First Solar’s manufacturing facility in Iberia Parish, Louisiana can be described as a vote of confidence for American made solar hardware. Especially so as the company recently announced Cherokee County, South Carolina as the preferred location for its new 3.7 GW solar manufacturing facility. According to First Solar, the Louisiana facility will also have ‘no dependencies on Chinese crystalline silicon supply chains’ in producing its Series 7 solar modules. These, the company states, will solely rely on American materials. The Series 7 modules will use glass made in Illinois and Ohio – a location with another of the company’s solar PV production facility, and steel made and backrailed in Mississippi and Louisiana respectively.
Local Impact Made by the First Solar Manufacturing Facility in Iberia Parish, Louisiana
As mentioned, the First Solar manufacturing plant in Iberia Parish, Louisiana has already brought hundreds of construction jobs, and many more permanent positions within its locality. The forecasted tax revenue is also expected to benefit local services, schools, and infrastructure in the area.
Being All-American is also ticker for local supply chain growth. This is expected to affect, positively of course, glass and steel suppliers, logistics firms, recycling and/or advanced-material hubs, etc. from around Louisiana and beyond.
New US$1.1 Billion First Solar Manufacturing Facility in Iberia Parish, Louisiana Breaks Ground
Reported September 25, 2023 – First Solar broke ground on its much-anticipated production plant in Iberia Parish, Louisiana, marking the company’s sixth completely vertically integrated factory in the United States.
This massive project is estimated to cost $1.1 billion, making it the greatest capital investment in the region’s history. It is expected to considerably increase America’s ability to manufacture photovoltaic (PV) solar panels. Commercial exports from the plant will begin in the first half of 2026. This will increase the company’s nameplate manufacturing capacity by 3.5 gigatonnes (GW), to about 14 GW in the United States. Furthermore, the company will produce an astonishing 25 GW globally in 2026.
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Once completed, the completely vertically integrated manufacturing plant would cover an incredible two million square feet. Designed to expedite the production process, it transforms a glass sheet into a ready-to-ship Series 7 module in around 4.5 hours. Additionally, it produces over a dozen new Louisiana-made solar panels each minute.
Governor John Bel Edwards praised the effort, calling it a “historic day” for Iberia Parish and Louisiana. He emphasised the importance of this significant investment, praising the potential creation of hundreds of well-paying employment. First Solar’s choice to develop this plant, according to Edwards, solidifies Louisiana’s position as a global leader in the energy transition.
Employment at First Solar Louisiana Manufacturing Facility
The investment by First Solar in Louisiana will create more than 700 new direct manufacturing employees in the state. The firm presently employs over 2,500 people in the United States’ solar manufacturing industry. It expects to employ over 4,000 direct employees in the United States by 2026.
First Solar has followed an aggressive $4.1 billion manufacturing growth strategy from the beginning of the decade, increasing its worldwide nameplate capacity from around 6 GW in 2020 to 13 GW operational now.
