First Solar Welcomes EU Endorsement of

- Frankfurt (Oder) facility to employ over 400 people at full capacity


Phoenix, Arizona, 02. May 2006—First Solar on 27th April welcomed the European Commission’s authorization of €45.5 million in financial incentives which the German Government plans to provide to First Solar Manufacturing GmbH for the creation of a solar module manufacturing plant in Frankfurt (Oder), region of Brandenburg. The financial incentives are now subject to approval by the German Federal government. First Solar’s final decision to proceed with the project remains subject to approval by these authorities. First Solar has started preliminary work on the project in anticipation of this approval.

Upon completion, this facility will have a nominal capacity of 100MW and employ over 400 people. The total project cost is estimated at €115M, and production is planned to begin in mid-2007.

The facility will be located in Frankfurt (Oder) to take advantage of the qualified and cooperative local workforce and certain existing infrastructure. “We appreciate the strong support from the European Commission, German Federal authorities, the Industrial Investment Council (IIC), the Frankfurt (Oder) administration and the local community. Now we await the go ahead from Germany,” added Heiner Eichermueller, VP Global Manufacturing of First Solar and Managing Director of First Solar Manufacturing GmbH.


About First Solar:

First Solar manufactures solar modules with an advanced thin film semiconductor process that significantly lowers solar electricity costs. By enabling clean renewable electricity at affordable prices, First Solar provides an economic alternative to peak conventional electricity and the related fossil fuel dependence, greenhouse gas emissions and peak time grid constraints.

For more information, please visit http://www.firstsolar.com or contact:

Germany:

Heiner Eichermüller
First Solar GmbH
Rheinstraße 4N
55116 Mainz

Tel: +49 (0) 6131/ 1443-100
Mobil: +49 162 4031524
Fax: +49 (0) 6131/ 1443-500
E-Mail: heichermueller@firstsolar.com>heichermueller@firstsolar.com


USA:
Paula Vaughnn
First Solar
T: 602 414 93 22
E-Mail: pvaughnn@firstsolar.com>pvaughnn@firstsolar.com

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