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First Solar Joins the Desertec Industrial Initiative Partnership Highlights Promise of Photovoltaic Power in Deserts

Date

16 Mar 2010

Sections

Energy
Climate & Environment

MAINZ, Germany – March 16, 2010 – First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) on Tuesday announced that it had
joined the Desertec Industrial Initiative as an Associated Partner to demonstrate the potential of
photovoltaic (PV) solar technology to provide clean, sustainable energy on a vast scale by harnessing the
desert sun.

A leader in utility-scale solar power plants, First Solar is the first pure PV company to join Desertec,
which aims to provide a significant portion of the electricity for the Middle East and Northern Africa as
well as Europe by 2050 via a network of solar and wind energy sources.

“We look forward to working with Desertec to demonstrate the potential of renewable energies – and
PV in particular – to deliver clean, reliable power to the people of Africa and the Middle East as well as
Europe,” said Stephan Hansen, managing director of First Solar GmbH, the company’s European sales
and customer service unit for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. “The challenges of energy security
and global warming demand bold solutions and Desertec certainly provides an ambitious vision,” he
said.

As an Associated Partner of Desertec for an initial period of three years, First Solar will contribute utility-
scale PV expertise in Desertec working groups and prepare the ground for reference projects and a rollout
plan. Desertec’s founders include other leading companies in the solar and wind energy business as
well as in electricity distribution.

First Solar has already built utility-scale solar power plants in desert conditions in the United States and
United Arab Emirates and is preparing the way for a 2 gigawatt solar power plant in Ordos City, Inner
Mongolia.

Among other characteristics, First Solar’s thin-film technology delivers superior energy yields even under
hot desert conditions.

“As a high-performance, low-maintenance technology that can be deployed in stages and deliver clean
energy quickly, PV is the ideal complement to other renewable energies already represented in
Desertec,” said Mr. Hansen.

About First Solar

First Solar manufactures solar modules with an advanced semiconductor technology and provides
comprehensive photovoltaic (PV) system solutions. The company is delivering an economically viable
alternative to fossil-fuel generation today. From raw material sourcing through end-of-life collection and
recycling, First Solar is focused on creating cost-effective, renewable energy solutions that protect and
enhance the environment. For more information about First Solar, please visit
http://www.firstsolar.com.

For First Solar Investors

This release contains forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to the safe harbor
provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The forward-looking statements in this
release do not constitute guarantees of future performance. Those statements involve a number of
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, including risks associated with the company's
business involving the company's products, their development and distribution, economic and
competitive factors and the company's key strategic relationships and other risks detailed in the
company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. First Solar assumes no obligation to
update any forward-looking information contained in this press release or with respect to the
announcements described herein.

SOURCE: First Solar, Inc.

Media Contacts:

First Solar – (Europe)

Brandon Mitchener or Pia Alina Lange

+49 (6131) 1443-399

media-emea@firstsolar.com

First Solar – (Germany)

Sebastian Fasbender

+49 (0) 30 2088942-30

media-germany@firstsolar.com

First Solar – (USA)

Alan Bernheimer or Melanie Friedman 

+1 (602) 414-9361 

media@firstsolar.com

Desertec Industrial Initiative

Alexander Mohanty

+49 (151) 4020-2412

mohanty@dii-eumena.com

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