The Future of PV - First Solar's Perspective

description

The history of subsidized, renewable generation is punctuated by repeated boom-bust cycles.  The current PV supply/demand imbalance follows the same familiar pattern.  Even with module prices well below the magical $1/Wp barrier, demand stimulation remains elusive.

Does PV have a robust future as part of the global generation mix? We believe so, particularly in emerging markets with substantial new generation needs and the specific conditions allowing true "grid parity" in their local markets.

presenter(s)

Raffi Garabedian has been with First Solar as Vice President of Advanced Technologies since 2008.  He joined First Solar in order to apply himself to addressing the problems of climate change and energy independence through technology.  Prior to joining First Solar, Raffi was founder and CEO of Touchdown Technologies, a semiconductor wafer test probe card company.  Raffi has spent most of his career in the MEMS industry developing a variety of new products ranging from automotive sensors to telecommunications switching systems.  He holds over 20 issued patents in these.

Raffi earned a BSEE from Rensselaer Polytechnic University and an MSEE from the University of California at Davis.