Decreased government incentives in Europe have prompted cadmium telluride module manufacturer First Solar to reduce production levels by 50% at its factory in Germany.
First Solar spokesperson Alan Bernheimer told Bloomberg that the production cutbacks are part of the company's 2012 guidance to scale back to 80% of total capacity. Last year, First Solar doubled annual capacity at the German fab to 500 MW; beginning in March, output will be halved for six months.
The company has applied for government assistance to aid the 1,200 employees expected to be affected, according to Bloomberg.
