First Solar Opens 3.5 GW Manufacturing Facility in Louisiana: AI-Driven Solar Production and Over 800 Jobs
Tempe (USA) - First Solar has opened a new fully vertically integrated gigawatt-scale manufacturing facility in Iberia Parish, Louisiana. The $1.1 billion plant is expected to significantly boost U.S. solar production and create over 800 new jobs.
AI-Driven Production for Greater Efficiency
The new First Solar gigafactory covers more than 220,000 square meters (approximately 2.4 million square feet). The plant, which began production in July, manufactures Series 7 modules from U.S.-sourced materials (glass and steel), ensuring independence from Chinese supply chains. At full capacity, the facility can produce up to 3.5 GW annually.
Artificial intelligence is used at several points in the production process. Using computer vision and deep learning, the system automatically detects defects in solar modules as they move along the production line. Technicians and operators also use AI-powered tools to assist with operational adjustments and facilitate data-driven decision-making. This approach is designed to make manufacturing more efficient, precise, and consistent.
Economic Boost for Louisiana
The facility creates 826 manufacturing jobs, with First Solar reporting an average annual salary of $90,000, more than triple the average per capita income in Iberia Parish. According to an economic impact analysis by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, commissioned by the Iberia Economic Development Authority, the region’s GDP is expected to increase by 4.4 percent in the first full year of operation.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry emphasized: “First Solar’s investment is already delivering real results for Iberia Parish and the surrounding region with hundreds of good-paying jobs and new opportunities for Louisiana workers and businesses.” First Solar also plans to employ over 5,500 people directly in the U.S. by the end of 2026 and create more than 30,000 direct, indirect, and induced jobs nationwide by 2027.
According to the solar company, the plant benefits from political frameworks such as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” and trade policies of previous administrations, which boost demand for U.S.-made solar technology. These measures position First Solar as a leading U.S. photovoltaic module manufacturer and a driver of economic growth in the solar sector.
First Solar Continues Expansion
The Louisiana facility is part of the largest solar technology manufacturing and R&D hub in the Western Hemisphere. With three sites in Ohio (approximately 7 GW combined), one site in Alabama (3.5 GW), and the new facility in Louisiana (3.5 GW), First Solar is expanding its U.S. presence to about 14 GW. In addition, in November, First Solar announced the construction of another U.S. facility in South Carolina with 3.7 GW capacity, potentially bringing domestic production capacity to nearly 18 GW by 2027.
Beyond the U.S., First Solar also operates manufacturing facilities in India (approx. 3.3 GW), Malaysia (approx. 4.9 GW), and Vietnam (2.4 GW). Overall, First Solar’s global manufacturing capacity currently totals around 24 GW.
First Solar shares are currently trading at approximately €216.70, up about 25 percent compared to the year-end price.
Source: IWR Online, 24 Nov 2025
