The First Solar company based in Tempe, Arizona currently makes the most solar cells of any other company. In addition to that feat, the company may also soon close a deal to build the largest solar field in the world.
First Solar recently announced that they had signed a so-called “memorandum of understanding” with China to build a solar field in Inner Mongolia. The agreement was with Wu Bangguo, who is the chairman of the Standing Committee in China. The agreement is currently for ten years, although nothing is set in stone.
The solar field, if built, would be the largest in the world at approximately 25 square miles. In order to put this size in perspective, it would be like building a solar field on all of Manhattan plus a little more. The amount of energy creation would be two gigawatts. This would be enough energy to equate to two coal-fired plants.
The field will cost anywhere between $5 and $6 billion, however those figures are in terms of being built in the United States. First Solar has indicated that it will cost less in China due to lower labor costs. First Solar, once the solar field is built, is going to sell the field to an operator in China.
First Solar is hoping to be able to install 30 megawatts by June 1st, 2010. The entire solar field would be expected to be complete by 2019. The location, which is not set yet, will include additional renewable energy zones. The area is expected to have 12 gigawatts of energy, including the solar field, wind energy, hydroelectric and biomass energy.
China’s National Development and Reform Commission has yet to approve the project, which is part of the reason the agreement is tentative. Currently both sides see the plan going through, however nothing is certain yet.