First Solar Review 2026
First Solar manufactures 2 models across solar panels. Efficiency range 19.2%–19.8%.
Headquartered in United States · Manufacturing in United States
Founded 1999 by Harold McMaster (Glasstech), refounded as First Solar 1999 · Headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, United States
Parent company: First Solar, Inc.
Listed: NASDAQ:FSLR
First Solar at a glance
Certifications: IEC 61215 · IEC 61730 · UL 1703 · Buy American Act · ARRA-compliant
Warranty: 12-yr product · 25-yr performance
Key milestones
- 1999 Founded as First Solar in Phoenix, Arizona
- 2006 IPO on NASDAQ (FSLR)
- 2009 Became first solar company to surpass $2B in revenue
- 2023 Began Series 7 production - thin-film CadTel technology
Source: www.firstsolar.com/en/About-Us · Last updated 2026-05-27
First Pros & Cons (data-driven)
+ Pros
- ✓ Strong heat tolerance (-0.28%/°C, better than industry -0.32%/°C)
- ✓ US manufacturing available (Buy American / domestic content benefits)
− Cons
- ✗ Average panel efficiency 19.5% trails industry baseline 21%
- ✗ Average product warranty 10yr trails industry baseline 12yr
Pros and cons calculated against industry baselines: 21% panel efficiency, 12yr panel warranty, -0.32%/°C temp coeff, 90% battery RTE.
Current First Solar Product List (2)
Solar Panels (2)
| Model | Wattage | Efficiency | Warranty | Verified | Score | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series 7 545W | 545W | 19.8% | 10/30 yr | — | 69 (C+) | View → |
| Series 6 Plus 465W | 465W | 19.2% | 10/30 yr | ✓ | 71 (B) | View → |
Spec Sheet Downloads
1 manufacturer-published datasheet available for First Solar products. All links go to the official PDF on the manufacturer's website.
- PDF First Solar Series 6 Plus 465W datasheet →https://www.firstsolar.com/-/media/First-Solar/Technical-Documents/Series-6-Plus/Series-6-Plus-Datasheet---US.ashx
Recent First News
SolarSpec does not republish third-party news. For the latest First Solar news — product launches, financial filings, recalls, supply-chain updates — search Google News directly.
Search First news on Google News →Related Brands
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SolarSpec Score for First Solar?
First Solar earns a SolarSpec Score of 70/100 (Grade B) based on the weighted average of all 2 models in their 2026 lineup. The score combines efficiency, warranty, temperature coefficient, and verification status. See our /methodology/ page for the full formula.
How many solar products does First Solar offer in 2026?
First Solar offers 2 products in their 2026 lineup: 2 solar panels.
What is the most efficient First Solar solar panel?
The most efficient First Solar solar panel is the Series 7 545W at 19.8% efficiency with 545W output. First Solar panels range from 19.2% to 19.8% efficiency across 2 models.
What warranty does First Solar offer on solar panels?
First Solar offers up to 10-year product warranty and up to 30-year performance warranty. Average annual degradation across the lineup is 0.5%.
Where are First Solar solar panels manufactured?
First Solar solar panels are manufactured in United States.
Where can I download First Solar datasheets?
We have direct manufacturer-published datasheet links for 1 of 2 First Solar products. See the Spec Sheet Downloads section below for direct PDF links.
How we score brands
Every First Solar model in our catalog is scored 0-100 using a transparent formula: efficiency (25 pts), product warranty (20 pts), performance warranty bonus (3 pts), temperature coefficient (12 pts), and datasheet verification (5 pts), on a 50-point baseline. The brand-level score is the simple average across all 2 models.
Read the full SolarSpec methodology →