1001000 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 1001500 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 1003000 - Statement - Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity and Comprehensive Income link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 1004000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 1002000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Operations link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 0001000 - Document - Document and Entity Information link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2110100 - Disclosure - Note 10. Fair Value Measurements link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2410402 - Disclosure - Note 10. Fair Value Measurements (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2410403 - Disclosure - Note 10. Fair Value Measurements (Details) - Balance Sheet Grouping link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2310301 - Disclosure - Note 10. Fair Value Measurements (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2111100 - Disclosure - Note 11. Economic Development Funding link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2411401 - Disclosure - Note 11. Economic Development Funding (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2112100 - Disclosure - Note 12. Related Party Transactions link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2412401 - Disclosure - Note 12. Related Party Transactions (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2113100 - Disclosure - Note 13. Notes Receivable link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2413401 - Disclosure - Note 13. Notes Receivable (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2114100 - Disclosure - Note 14. Solar Module Collection and Recycling Liability link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2414401 - Disclosure - Note 14. Solar Module Collection and Recycling Liability (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2115100 - Disclosure - Note 15. Debt link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2415402 - Disclosure - Note 15. Debt (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2415403 - Disclosure - Note 15. Debt (Details) - Facility Agreements link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2315301 - Disclosure - Note 15. Debt (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2116100 - Disclosure - Note 16. Commitments and Contingencies link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2416402 - Disclosure - Note 16. Commitments and Contingencies (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2416403 - Disclosure - Note 16. Commitments and Contingencies (Details) - Lease Commitments link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2416405 - Disclosure - Note 16. Commitments and Contingencies (Details) - Product Warranties link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2416404 - Disclosure - Note 16. Commitments and Contingencies (Details) - Purchase Commitments link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2416406 - Disclosure - Note 16. Commitments and Contingencies (Details) - Sales Agreements link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2316301 - Disclosure - Note 16. Commitments and Contingencies (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2117100 - Disclosure - Note 17. Stockholders' Equity link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2417401 - Disclosure - Note 17. Stockholders' Equity (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2118100 - Disclosure - Note 18. Share-Based Compensation link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2418402 - Disclosure - Note 18. Share-Based Compensation (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2418404 - Disclosure - Note 18. Share-Based Compensation (Details) - Exercise Price Range link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2418403 - Disclosure - Note 18. Share-Based Compensation (Details) - Options and RSUs link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2418405 - Disclosure - Note 18. Share-Based Compensation (Details) - Stock Awards link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2418406 - Disclosure - Note 18. Share-Based Compensation (Details) - Stock Purchase Plan link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2318301 - Disclosure - Note 18. Share-Based Compensation (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2119100 - Disclosure - Note 19. Benefit Plans link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2419401 - Disclosure - Note 19. Benefit Plans (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2101100 - Disclosure - Note 1. First Solar and Its Business link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2120100 - Disclosure - Note 20. Income Taxes link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2420402 - Disclosure - Note 20. Income Taxes (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2420404 - Disclosure - Note 20. Income Taxes (Details) - Income Tax Holiday link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2420403 - Disclosure - Note 20. Income Taxes (Details) - Repatriation of Earnings link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2420406 - Disclosure - Note 20. Income Taxes (Details) - Uncertainties link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2420405 - Disclosure - Note 20. Income Taxes (Details) - Valuation Allowance link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2320301 - Disclosure - Note 20. Income Taxes (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2121100 - Disclosure - Note 21. Net Income Per Share link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2421402 - Disclosure - Note 21. Net Income Per Share (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2321301 - Disclosure - Note 21. Net Income Per Share (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2122100 - Disclosure - Note 22. Comprehensive Income (Loss) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2422402 - Disclosure - Note 22. Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2322301 - Disclosure - Note 22. Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2123100 - Disclosure - Note 23. Statement of Cash Flows link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2423402 - Disclosure - Note 23. Statement of Cash Flows (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2323301 - Disclosure - Note 23. Statement of Cash Flows (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2124100 - Disclosure - Note 24. Segment and Geographical Information link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2424402 - Disclosure - Note 24. Segment and Geographical Information (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2324301 - Disclosure - Note 24. Segment and Geographical Information (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2125100 - Disclosure - Note 25. Concentrations of Credit and Other Risks link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2425402 - Disclosure - Note 25. Concentrations of Credit and Other Risks (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2325301 - Disclosure - Note 25. Concentrations of Credit and Other Risks (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2126100 - Disclosure - Note 26. Subsequent Events link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2102100 - Disclosure - Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2402403 - Disclosure - Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2402404 - Disclosure - Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - Textuals link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2202201 - Disclosure - Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2302302 - Disclosure - Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2103100 - Disclosure - Note 3. Recent Accounting Pronouncements link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2104100 - Disclosure - Note 4. Restructuring and Acquisitions link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2404403 - Disclosure - Note 4. Restructuring and Acquisitions (Details) - Acquisitions link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2404402 - Disclosure - Note 4. Restructuring and Acquisitions (Details) - Restructuring link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2304301 - Disclosure - Note 4. Restructuring and Acquisitions Note 4. Restructuring and Acquisitions (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2105100 - Disclosure - Note 5. Goodwill and Intangible Assets link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2405403 - Disclosure - Note 5. Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) - Finite-Lived Intangible Assets link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2405402 - Disclosure - Note 5. Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Goodwill (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2305301 - Disclosure - Note 5. Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2106100 - Disclosure - Note 6. Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Marketable Securities link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2406402 - Disclosure - Note 6. Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Marketable Securities (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2406403 - Disclosure - Note 6. Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Marketable Securities (Details) - Available For Sale link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2306301 - Disclosure - Note 6. Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Marketable Securities (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2107100 - Disclosure - Note 7. Restricted Cash and Investments link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2407402 - Disclosure - Note 7. Restricted Cash and Investments (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2407403 - Disclosure - Note 7. Restricted Cash and Investments (Details) - Available For Sale link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2307301 - Disclosure - Note 7. Restricted Cash and Investments (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2108100 - Disclosure - Note 8. Consolidated Balance Sheet Details link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2408402 - Disclosure - Note 8. Consolidated Balance Sheet Details (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2308301 - Disclosure - Note 8. Consolidated Balance Sheet Details (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2109100 - Disclosure - Note 9. Derivative Financial Instruments link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2409402 - Disclosure - Note 9. Derivative Financial Instruments (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2409403 - Disclosure - Note 9. Derivative Financial Instruments (Details) - Hedging Relationship link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2409404 - Disclosure - Note 9. Derivative Financial Instruments (Details) - Risk Management link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2409405 - Disclosure - Note 9. Derivative Financial Instruments (Details) - Transaction Exposure link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2309301 - Disclosure - Note 9. Derivative Financial Instruments (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2127100 - Schedule - Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2427401 - Schedule - Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink