First Solar may pull the plug on its planned French module factory

Last year US-based First Solar announced plans to build a 100MW module plant in Blanquefort, France, in partnership with EDF Energies Nouvelles.

The €150m ($200.3m) factory was to be co-financed by the two firms and operated by First Solar, with its entire output of thin-film panels to be absorbed by EDF-EN’s growing project pipeline for at least 10 years.

But First Solar chief executive Rob Gillette now says the firm may postpone the factory – initially due for completion in 2012 – or cancel it altogether, due to the French government’s crumbling support for solar energy.

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