Vitro and First Solar Expand Contract to Provide High-Tech Glass Front Sheets for Solar Panels
Vitro has announced through its architectural glass business, the expansion of its contract to provide the glass front sheets used in advanced thin-film photovoltaic (PV) solar panels manufactured by First Solar. Aligned with the company's international expansion plans, this operation represents approximately $1.3 billion dollars in sales over the next 10 years, in addition to the sales covered by the initial contract, estimated at a similar amount.
"We are very excited and grateful for the trust placed in us by First Solar, as it aligns with our goal of capitalizing on growth opportunities in the North American Trade Region based on our technological strength and collaboration with our customers. This agreement will allow us to participate in and develop the renewable energy sector in America," said Vitro CEO Adrian Sada.
Considering the requirements of this expansion, Vitro will invest an estimated $180 million to upgrade one of the furnaces at the Meadville plant, located in Pennsylvania, as well in adapting additional existing facilities, to support First Solar's growing manufacturing capacity in the United States.
“As we continue to grow our domestic manufacturing footprint, it is essential that our domestic value chain scales with us,” said Mike Koralewski, chief supply chain officer, First Solar. “We are pleased to expand our contract with Vitro, which gives us access to a new source of American-made glass for the front sheets in our solar panels and supports our efforts to build resilience into our US supply chains.”
