First Solar Supports Missouri S&T Efforts to Secure Supply Chains

Arizona-headquartered First Solar, Inc. has established the Endowed Professorship in Critical Energy Materials in the materials science and engineering department at Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T).

First Solar is America’s leading photovoltaic (PV) solar technology and manufacturing company, and the only U.S.-headquartered manufacturer among the world’s largest producers of solar panels. The decision to endow a professorship at Missouri S&T re-flects the strategic alignment between the two organizations, which have collaborated on critical minerals, particularly tellurium, for the past decade.

“We recognize Missouri S&T’s unparalleled depth of expertise in responsible produc-tion of critical energy materials, and we’re pleased to be able to help ensure that this endures into the future,” says Mike Koralewski, chief supply chain officer at First Solar. “Our relationship is a great example of what’s possible when industry and academia work together to secure critical supply chains.”

Dr. Michael Moats, professor and chair of materials science and engineering at S&T, has worked with First Solar for many years, advising the company on existing tellurium supply and opportunities to increase affordable and sustainable recovery of the metal-loid from existing operations. He believes First Solar’s endowment is key to Missouri S&T’s strategy to be a leader in critical minerals research by developing expertise on important points across the supply chain that governs each mineral’s journey to the marketplace.

“The position will plug into our team and complement the expertise we already have throughout the supply chain, from policy and economics to cleaning up afterwards,” says Moats. “The generosity and foresight of First Solar will enhance our ability to im-pact the nation and the world.

“The fact is, other economies dominate the global market for certain elements, and when restrictions are placed on those elements, there’s the potential to disrupt manu-facturing, slow down our fight against climate change and impact our national securi-ty,” Moats says. “By ensuring that extractive metallurgy is taught at a college level, First Solar is helping us address these challenges.”