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Cheaper Than China Again, First Solar Vindicates U.S. Investment

  • First Solar invested $775 million to boost panel efficiency
  • `Chinese have hit a wall' in wringing cost from solar panels
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For the first time in three years, First Solar Inc. is making panels for less than China’s biggest producer, justifying more than $3 billion in loan guarantees from the U.S. government.

After investing $775 million in technology, First Solar is producing panels for as little as 40 cents a watt, or about 15 percent less than China’s Trina Solar Ltd. In 2019, First Solar’s module cost could be as low as 25 cents a watt, according to analysts’ models.