US-listed thin-film solar PV manufacturer First Solar is benefiting from the 30 percent tariff on imported crystalline-silicon PV cells announced by the US government in January. The company, whose products are excluded from the new restrictions, has already seen its order book grow, with 7.7 GW of bookings in the last year, and a backlog that will take three years to ship at current production rates. Falling silicon prices had forced the company to increase efficiency and cut costs to compete, and it is now well-placed to take advantage of the blow to its competitors represented by the new tariffs.
US-listed thin-film solar PV manufacturer First Solar is benefiting from the 30% tariff on imported crystalline-silicon PV cells announced by the US government in January. The company, whose products are excluded from the new restrictions, has already seen its order book grow, with 7.7 GW of bookings in the last year, and a backlog that will take three years to ship at current production rates. Falling silicon prices had forced the company to increase efficiency and cut costs to compete, and it is now well-placed to take advantage of the blow to its competitors represented by the new tariffs.