2019 World Water Day - Leaving No One Behind

Access to clean water and sanitation remains one of the key challenges in the coming years - having been high up on the sustainable development agenda and captured in the United Nations SDG 6, a lot of efforts have been undertaken globally to address water scarcity, improve poor water quality and reduce inadequate sanitation.

The withdrawal of water related to the generation of fossil fuel-based energy - especially in industrialized regions like North America and Europe – is one of the root causes for water scarcity. The use of water for energy is a growing concern in hot and already water-stressed regions. Solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies provide a solution to address two of the major challenges for humanity in the coming decades - decoupling electricity generation from water withdrawals and from greenhouse gas emissions.

Energy accounts for 10-15% of global water withdrawals. In regions such as North America and Europe, energy can account for 40-50% of total water withdrawals.

When comparing different electricity generating technologies it becomes apparent that photovoltaics in general, and First Solar's advanced thin-film technology in particular, offer a great potential for reducing water scarcity in addition to decarbonizing the water supply - i.e. in desalination and irrigation applications.

On a lifecycle basis, First Solar's advanced Series 6 technology has the lowest life cycle water footprint – primarily due to our highly efficient manufacturing process and the fact, that there is no water use during the operation of the PV power plant.

The majority of water used across the life cycle of First Solar’s thin film PV power plants - about 88% - relates to indirect water withdrawals attributed with the grid electricity used in our manufacturing process and for the production of raw materials.

In addition to being an industry leader in terms of water efficiency on a life cycle basis, waste water treatment facilities in manufacturing operations globally ensure the recycling of process waters. As a result, our routinely operated recycling facilities operate with zero wastewater discharge.

In alignment with SDG 6 and the World Water Day theme of leaving no one behind, our manufacturing team in Dong Nam donated $25,000 to a non-profit called Vietnam Health, Education and Literature projects (VNHelp) to support the Safe Drinking Water for Schools project. First Solar’s See Chong Chang and Minh Tam Tam Nguyen OM are attending the handover ceremony which fittingly coincides with World Water Day 2019. 

First Solar Vietnam’s donation of $25,000 supported the installation of 10 reverse osmosis-UV water filtration systems at schools in remote areas of Thanh Hoa Province.

The donation supports the installation of 10 water filtration systems to provide 5,000 pupils access to safe drinking water in the rural areas of the Thanh Hoa province. Today, less than 40% of the rural population in Vietnam has access to piped water and 60% of the water used is increasingly contaminated as a result of climate change and industrial pollution. The installation of the reverse-osmosis units will be complemented with on-site training for all students regarding safe drinking water and personal hygiene.

Our vision to lead the world's sustainable energy future is embodied in the spirit and passion of our associates. The way our teams think globally and act locally on all dimensions of sustainability is truly the greatest motivation to continue on this exciting journey - leaving no one behind.