First Solar manufactures thin-film cadmium telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic modules and operates the world's largest solar panel recycling programme.
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First Solar has raised absolute emissions 19% year-on-year while expanding capacity, despite intensity gains and a validated net-zero target. Scope 3 emissions remain unquantified. The company leads in solar panel recycling (95% recovery) and renewable energy procurement, but relies on intensity-based targets for supply chain emissions and faces inherent cadmium toxicity risks from its CdTe product.
First Solar scores 51/100 (Making progress) on SINK's independent climate assessment, scored from public data only. Fees pay for the review, never the result. Last verified June 2026.
That places First Solar joint 126th of 847 companies scored, and joint 3rd of 33 in Electronics / Hardware.
Where First Solar sits among electronics / hardware peers.
Among the 33 major electronics / hardware brands we've scored, First Solar is tied =3rd of 33, with 2 others.
Its three lowest-scoring questions, and what the evidence didn't show.
Manufacturing energy and water intensity improved 6% and 9% respectively versus 2023, but absolute emissions trajectory continues upward.
No Scope 3 absolute emissions disclosed for 2024 or 2023.
No TNFD-aligned disclosure.
A score changes when the evidence does. We use new published evidence at the next rescore. Evidence that isn't public can count through an evidence review.
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Get in touch →Strongest on Transparency & Accountability and Carbon Footprint — Operations (8/10, 7/10). Weakest on Emissions Trajectory and Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain (3/10, 5/10).
The 2 companies in the sector scoring nearest above First Solar.
Fairphone has built genuine climate and circularity credentials: 48% absolute emissions cuts since 2022, SBTi-validated net-zero targets, 100% e-waste neutrality, and third-party audited KPIs.
See the breakdown →Computacenter has delivered genuine Scope 1 & 2 carbon neutrality since 2022 and holds SBTi-validated targets.
See the breakdown →The formula and all 9 sources.
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × Scale9 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
“In 2024, First Solar reported total greenhouse gas emissions of approximately 936,044,000 kg CO2e”
“2024 CDP Corporate Response”
“By 2050, First Solar aims to reduce our scope 3 GHG emissions...by 97 percent per MW produced”
“we diverted 88% of waste from disposal (compared to 87% in 2023) and recovered a global average of 95% of materials from recycled panels”
“First Solar is the largest solar manufacturer in the Western Hemisphere and the world's largest high-value solar panel recycler.”
“environmental releases of Cd and low worker exposures during routine manufacturing process, both far below regulatory limits”
“high-value module recycling program recorded an average global material recovery rate of 95%”
“SEIA demonstrates active and mostly positive engagement on US climate policy”
“A 32% year-on-year reduction in manufacturing water intensity and a 78% reduction since 2009.”
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First Solar manufactures thin-film cadmium telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic modules and operates the world's largest solar panel recycling programme. Headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, the company produces approximately 15.5 GW of modules annually across manufacturing facilities in the US, Malaysia, Vietnam, and India. It is a vertically integrated solar manufacturer and recycler.
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