PVTIME – First Solar has lowered its financial guidance for the full year of 2026 and obtained board approval for a USD 500 million share buyback programme. The thin-film solar manufacturer has also entered into a patent licensing agreement with CubicPV, covering perovskite technology.
The updated outlook reflects the challenging market conditions currently faced by photovoltaic producers. The share buyback is part of the company’s capital allocation strategy to return value to shareholders, while retaining funds for manufacturing growth and research priorities.
The licensing arrangement grants First Solar access to CubicPV’s US perovskite patent portfolio, including issued patents and pending applications. This will support the company’s domestic development pipeline for advanced solar cell designs. The commercial terms of the licence have not been disclosed.
Meanwhile, First Solar continues to advance its internal perovskite research at its Ohio development sites.
