09:51 AM EDT, 07/18/2024 (MT Newswires) -- First Solar ( FSLR ) said Thursday it has commissioned a 1.3 million square-foot research and development center in Ohio, which it said may be the largest facility of its kind in the Western Hemisphere.

The facility includes a high-tech pilot manufacturing line allowing for the production of full-sized prototypes of thin film and tandem PV modules, the company said.

Prior to the commissioning of the new facility, First Solar ( FSLR ) said it used a manufacturing line in Perrysburg, Ohio for late-stage product development, often requiring mission-critical tools to go offline.

First Solar ( FSLR ) shares rose more than 2% in recent trading.

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