Five Compelling Reasons to Consider Thin Film Solar Panels

As an authorized First Solar distributor, we get a lot of questions about thin film solar panels. Here are five reasons to consider First Solar thin film over conventional crystalline silicon solar panels.

Reason #1:
First Solar's thin film solar panels are exceptionally durable and offer superior performance.

Head to head, First Solar's thin film panels outperform conventional crystalline silicon panels in several ways:

  • Higher lifetime energy, with lower LCOE over silicon panels
  • ZERO power loss from cell-cracking
  • Withstand hail up to 75mm, twice as large as silicon panels
  • Immune to power loss from LiD and LeTID
  • Superior linear shading response
  • Up to 3% better temperature coefficients than silicon panels
  • Lowest warranted degradation rate on the market – panels retain >92% of their original performance after 30 years
  • Under-mount frames (Series 6) and back rails (Series 7) easily allow snow and rain to shed off the panels, reducing soiling
As the name suggests, thin film panels are manufactured by depositing a thin layer of photovoltaic material onto a glass substrate. Thin film panels do not contain solar cells, which are more brittle. First Solar is able to produce a thin film solar panel in about 4.5 hours, start to finish in a single factory, using a fully integrated, continuous process.
thin film vs cSi
Flexibility of thin film versus C-Si. Images courtesy of First Solar.
First Solar Series 6 undermount frame
Series 6 Plus under-mount frame. Image courtesy of First Solar.

Reason #2:
In terms of bankability and risk profile, First Solar outshines other manufacturers.

In today's volatile environment, risk profile matters more than ever when choosing a solar manufacturer.

First Solar has the healthiest balance sheet of any Tier 1 manufacturer on the market, with more than $2.4 billion net cash, garnering it an A-rating in PV manufacturer bankability from PV ModuleTech. Better still, First Solar is not susceptible to tariff risks (exempt from Section 201 and AD/CVD duties) and is not dependent on China for its raw materials.

First Solar’s thin film is also an excellent hedge against insurance risks – it’s immune to cell cracking, offers superior durability against hail, and is backed by industry-leading warranties.

First Solar thin film manufacturing facility in Lake Township
First Solar's 1.3 million ft2 R&D facility in Lake Township, Ohio. Image courtesy of First Solar.

Reason #3:
When you buy First Solar, you're supporting American manufacturing.

Long before the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) breathed new life into domestic solar manufacturing, First Solar has been here, investing in our economy and creating American jobs.

For the past two decades, First Solar has been “America’s solar company,” with more than $4 billion invested in building manufacturing and R&D facilities in the Midwest and Southeast. It’s on track to have 25GW of capacity by 2026, providing an estimated 15,000 American jobs.

First Solar manufacturing associate
Featured First Solar associate. Image courtesy of First Solar.

Reason #4:
First Solar's thin film is made more sustainably than any other Tier 1 solar panels on the market.

First Solar is the industry leader when it comes to sustainable manufacturing and solar panel recycling.

First Solar has the best environmental profile of any PV manufacturer on the market. It’s the first PV manufacturer to be included in the EPEAT global registry for sustainable electronics. The manufacturing process used to create thin film results in a carbon footprint that is 2.5 times lower than silicon modules, while using 3 times less water.

Even more impressive, First Solar is able to recover more than 90% of its end-of-life modules for reuse in new modules and glass products through its recycling program.

In terms of sustainability, no other PV manufacturer even comes close.

First Solar thin film sustainability statistics
First Solar vs. mono-silicon manufacturing. Image courtesy of First Solar.

Reason #5:
When you buy from us, you are buying from an authorized distributor with extensive thin film experience.

Better still, you get to take advantage of exclusive pricing for Kinect Solar buyers.

Kinect Solar has been a preferred partner since First Solar first entered the DG space in 2020. In the past four years, we’ve fine-tuned how to help our customers design their projects with thin film and proven our ability to transport and store thin film safely. To date, we have sold more First Solar products than any other distributor in the DG space.

We stock several First Solar product lines in our warehouses, including new and legacy equipment. As an authorized First Solar dealer, we also have access to additional inventory from First Solar, with exclusive pricing for Kinect Solar buyers.

Reach out to your Kinect Solar sales rep today to inquire about our available inventory for your next project or register to gain access our inventory page.
solar project using First Solar thin film solar panels
Featured First Solar C&I ground-mount project. Image courtesy of First Solar.
More reasons to choose First Solar
Kate Wilcox
Senior Content Manager at Kinect Solar

As Kinect Solar’s content manager, Kate Wilcox is focused on keeping our partners and clients in the solar industry up to speed on policy and supply chain developments. She has been writing in the solar industry since 2017 and believes in a future powered by renewable energy. Kate loves living and hiking in the Rocky Mountains.

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DISCLAIMER: This post is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Kinect Solar makes no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness of this information. Kinect Solar is not liable or responsible for any damages or losses resulting from or related to your use of this information. This post includes links to websites not affiliated with or endorsed by Kinect Solar.