A spokesperson for the thin film photovoltaic module manufacturer has told news agency DAPD that as of March 1, 2012, it will shut down 50 percent of its manufacturing production. It has already informed its workforce of the decision at a recent meeting held.
First Solar only officially opened its second German plant at the start of November. The move saw the company doubling its production capacity in Frankfurt (Oder) from 250 megawatts (MW) to 500 MW.
The goal of First Solars latest move is to "bring European production capacity in line with Continental demand," according to the spokesperson. The company can also then react to the reduced support for photovoltaic installations in the various European countries, like Italy, Spain, Greece, Switzerland, France, Germany and the U.K.
Translated and edited by Becky Stuart.
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