First Solar Inc
First Solar's GHG Emissions Data Preview
In 2023, First Solar completed a corporate carbon footprint assessment and publicly disclosed its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions according to the GHG Protocol, covering Scope 1 (direct emissions from owned or controlled sources), Scope 2 (indirect emissions from purchased energy) and Scope 3 (indirect emissions across the value chain).
First Solar has also provided a category-level breakdown for 13 out of 15 Scope 3 emissions categories, offering greater transparency into its value chain emissions.
| Metric (tCO2e) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 - 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Scope 1 | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  b | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  d | 0000000 |
Total Scope 2 | ||||
Market-Based | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  b | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  e | 0000000 |
Location-Based | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  b | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  e | 0000000 |
Total Scope 3 | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  b | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  c | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  d | 0000000 |
Total Scope 1 Revenue Intensity (tCO2e/$M) | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  b | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  d | 0000000 |
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cVerified Sources Behind First Solar’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Data
Every figure on this dashboard has a transparent audit trail. With Tracenable, each data point is traceable back to its original source, viewable directly inside our platform. Explore First Solar’s data sources below and access millions more through our Disclosure Search.
Insights into First Solar's Operational Emissions
In 2023, the total operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of First Solar amounted to 804,809 metric tons of CO2 equivalent. This figure includes both direct emissions from owned or controlled sources (Scope 1) and indirect emissions from purchased energy (Scope 2). a
Compared to 2022, the total operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of First Solar increased by 31.2%, suggesting that the company faced challenges in reducing its emissions from its core operations. a b
First Solar's Scope 1 Emissions Over Time
- Total Scope 1
- Year-over-Year Change
What are First Solar's Scope 1 emissions?
In 2023, the total Scope 1 emissions of First Solar were 11,638 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e). a
Has First Solar reduced its Scope 1 emissions over time?
Since 2018, First Solar's Scope 1 emissions have decreased by 47.58%, reflecting a declining long-term trend in Scope 1 emissions over time. a g
Compared to the previous year (2022), First Solar's Scope 1 emissions increased by 51.34%, suggesting that the company faced challenges in reducing emissions from its directly owned or controlled operations. a b
What are First Solar's Scope 2 emissions?
In 2023, First Solar reported Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 776,502 tCO₂e using the market-based method and 793,171 tCO₂e using the location-based method. a
Has First Solar reduced its Scope 2 emissions over time?
Since 2018, First Solar's Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions ( Location-Based) have increased by 85.37%, reflecting a rising long-term trend in Scope 2 emissions over time. a f
Compared to the previous year (2022), First Solar's Scope 2 emissions (Location-Based) rose by 30.95% in 2023, suggesting that the company faced challenges in reducing emissions from purchased electricity and energy a b
What methodology does First Solar use for Scope 2 reporting?
In 2023, First Solar reported its Scope 2 emissions using the market-based method and using the location-based method. a
First Solar's Scope 2 Emissions Over Time
- Total Scope 2 Location-Based
- Total Scope 2 Market-Based
Insights into First Solar's Value Chain Emissions
In 2023, First Solar reported 3,660,151 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e) of Scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, representing indirect emissions across its upstream and downstream value chain. b
The 2023 disclosure of First Solar includes a breakdown across 8 of the 15 Scope 3 categories defined by the GHG Protocol, down from 12 in 2022, indicating a decline in reporting granularity and reduced insight into the company's full value chain emissions. b
First Solar's Scope 3 Emissions Over Time
- Total Scope 3
- Year-over-Year Change
What are First Solar's Scope 3 emissions?
In 2023, First Solar reported total Scope 3 emissions of 3,660,151 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e). b
Approximately 99.98% of these emissions originated from upstream activities such as purchased goods and capital goods, while 0.02% came from downstream activities like product use, distribution, and end-of-life treatment. b
Has First Solar reduced its Scope 3 emissions over time?
Since 2018, First Solar's Scope 3 emissions have increased by 261.21%, reflecting a rising long-term trend in Scope 3 emissions over time. b g
Compared to the previous year (2022), First Solar's Scope 3 emissions increased by 36.59%, suggesting that the company faced challenges in reducing emissions across its value chain. b c
What categories of Scope 3 emissions does First Solar disclose?
In 2023, First Solar reported emissions for 8 out of the 15 Scope 3 categories defined by the GHG Protocol. a
This partial disclosure allows for some insight into the company's indirect impacts.
What are the main sources of First Solar's Scope 3 emissions?
In 2023, the largest contributors to First Solar's Scope 3 emissions were: a
- Purchased Goods and Services (Cat. 1): 2,347,907 tCO₂e (64.15%)
- Capital Goods (Cat. 2): 983,001 tCO₂e (26.86%)
- Fuel- and Energy-Related Services (Cat. 3): 180,097 tCO₂e (4.92%)
First Solar's Scope 3 Emissions by Categories
Insights into First Solar’s GHG Emissions Intensity Compared to Industry Peers
In 2023, First Solar reported Scope 1 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 11,638 tCO₂e and total revenues of USD 3,319 millions. This translates into an emissions intensity of 3.51 tCO₂e per millions USD. a
First Solar's Scope 1 Emissions Intensity Compared to Peers
How does First Solar's GHG emissions intensity compare to its peers?
In 2023, First Solar reported a Scope 1 emissions intensity of 3.51 tCO₂e per millions USD. Compared to the peer group median of 0.33 , this places the company above its industry benchmark, indicating it is less carbon-efficient than most competitors. a
Where does First Solar rank on GHG emissions intensity within its industry?
In 2023, First Solar ranked 18 out of 21 companies in its industry peer group, based on Scope 1 emissions intensity (measured in tCO₂e per millions USD). a
This places First Solar among the least efficient performers, with one of the highest emissions intensities in its sector. a
Insights into First Solar's Total Carbon Footprint
In 2023, First Solar reported a total carbon footprint of 4,464,960 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e) across Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions. This represents a 35.59% increase compared to 2022, suggesting a rise in emissions across its operations or value chain. a b c
The largest contributor to First Solar's total carbon footprint was Scope 3 emissions, accounting for 81.98% of the company's total carbon footprint, followed by Scope 2 emissions at 17.76%. a b