1001000 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 1001001 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parentheticals) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 1006000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 1004000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 1002000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Operations link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 1005000 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 0001000 - Document - Document and Entity Information Document link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2111100 - Disclosure - Note 10. Derivative Financial Instruments link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2411402 - Disclosure - Note 10. Derivative Financial Instruments (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2411403 - Disclosure - Note 10. Derivative Financial Instruments (Details) - Hedging Relationship link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2411404 - Disclosure - Note 10. Derivative Financial Instruments (Details) - Risk Management link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2411405 - Disclosure - Note 10. Derivative Financial Instruments (Details) - Transaction Exposure link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2311301 - Disclosure - Note 10. Derivative Financial Instruments (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2114100 - Disclosure - Note 11. Fair Value Measurements link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2414402 - Disclosure - Note 11. Fair Value Measurements (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2414403 - Disclosure - Note 11. Fair Value Measurements (Details) - Balance Sheet Grouping link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2314301 - Disclosure - Note 11. Fair Value Measurements (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2415402 - Disclosure - Note 12. Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates and Joint Ventures (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2115100 - Disclosure - Note 12. Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates and Joint Ventures (Notes) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2315301 - Disclosure - Note 12. Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates and Joint Ventures (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2416402 - Disclosure - Note 13. Percentage-of-Completion Changes in Estimates (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2116100 - Disclosure - Note 13. Percentage-of-Completion Changes in Estimates (Notes) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2316301 - Disclosure - Note 13. Percentage-of-Completion Changes in Estimates (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2117100 - Disclosure - Note 14. Solar Module Collection and Recycling Liability link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2417401 - Disclosure - Note 14. Solar Module Collection and Recycling Liability (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2118100 - Disclosure - Note 15. Debt link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2418402 - Disclosure - Note 15. Debt (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2318301 - Disclosure - Note 15. Debt (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2119100 - Disclosure - Note 16. Commitments and Contingencies link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2419406 - Disclosure - Note 16. Commitments and Contingencies (Details) - Accrual in Excess of Normal Warranty link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2419402 - Disclosure - Note 16. Commitments and Contingencies (Details) - Commercial Commitments link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2419408 - Disclosure - Note 16. Commitments and Contingencies (Details) - Contingent Consideration link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2419403 - Disclosure - Note 16. Commitments and Contingencies (Details) - Lease Commitments link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2419407 - Disclosure - Note 16. Commitments and Contingencies (Details) - Performance Guarantees link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2419405 - Disclosure - Note 16. Commitments and Contingencies (Details) - Product Warranties link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2419404 - Disclosure - Note 16. Commitments and Contingencies (Details) - Purchase Commitments link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2319301 - Disclosure - Note 16. Commitments and Contingencies (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2420401 - Disclosure - Note 17. Stockholders' Equity (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2120100 - Disclosure - Note 17. Stockholders' Equity (Notes) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2121100 - Disclosure - Note 18. Share-Based Compensation link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2421402 - Disclosure - Note 18. Share-Based Compensation (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2421403 - Disclosure - Note 18. Share-Based Compensation (Details) - RSUs link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2421404 - Disclosure - Note 18. Share-Based Compensation (Details) - Stock Awards link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2421405 - Disclosure - Note 18. Share-Based Compensation (Details) - Stock Purchase Plan link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2321301 - Disclosure - Note 18. Share-Based Compensation (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2122100 - Disclosure - Note 19. Benefit Plans link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2422401 - 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 2401402 - Disclosure - Note 1. First Solar and Its Business Revisions - Balance Sheet (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2401404 - Disclosure - Note 1. First Solar and Its Business Revisions - Cash Flows (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2401403 - Disclosure - Note 1. First Solar and Its Business Revisions - Statement of Operations (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2301301 - Disclosure - Note 1. First Solar and Its Business Revisions (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2123100 - Disclosure - Note 20. Income Taxes link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2423402 - Disclosure - Note 20. Income Taxes (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2423404 - Disclosure - Note 20. Income Taxes (Details) - Uncertainties link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2423403 - Disclosure - Note 20. Income Taxes (Details) - Valuation Allowance link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2323301 - Disclosure - Note 20. Income Taxes (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2124100 - Disclosure - Note 21. Net Income Per Share link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2424402 - Disclosure - Note 21. Net Income Per Share (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2324301 - Disclosure - Note 21. Net Income Per Share (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2126100 - Disclosure - Note 22 Comprehensive Income and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2426402 - Disclosure - Note 22 Comprehensive Income and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2326301 - Disclosure - Note 22 Comprehensive Income and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2129100 - Disclosure - Note 23. Segment and Geographical Information link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2429402 - Disclosure - Note 23. Segment and Geographical Information (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2329301 - Disclosure - Note 23. Segment and Geographical Information (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2130100 - Disclosure - Note 24. Concentrations of Risks link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2430402 - Disclosure - Note 24. Concentrations of Risks (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2330301 - Disclosure - Note 24. Concentrations of Risks (Tables) 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 2403401 - Disclosure - Note 3. Recent Accounting Pronouncements Note 3. Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2103100 - Disclosure - Note 3. Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Notes) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2405401 - Disclosure - Note 4. Asset Impairments (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2105100 - Disclosure - Note 4. Asset Impairments (Notes) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2106100 - Disclosure - Note 5. Business Acquisitions link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2406401 - Disclosure - Note 5. Business Acquisitions (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2107100 - Disclosure - Note 6. Goodwill and Intangible Assets link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2407402 - Disclosure - Note 6. Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2407403 - Disclosure - Note 6. Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) - Other Intangible Assets link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2307301 - Disclosure - Note 6. Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2108100 - Disclosure - Note 7. Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Marketable Securities link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2408402 - Disclosure - Note 7. Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Marketable Securities (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2408403 - Disclosure - Note 7. Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Marketable Securities (Details) - Available For Sale link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2308301 - Disclosure - Note 7. Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Marketable Securities (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2109100 - Disclosure - Note 8. Restricted Cash and Investments link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2409402 - Disclosure - Note 8. Restricted Cash and Investments (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2409403 - Disclosure - Note 8. Restricted Cash and Investments (Details) - Available For Sale link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2309301 - Disclosure - Note 8. Restricted Cash and Investments (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2110100 - Disclosure - Note 9. Consolidated Balance Sheet Details link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2410402 - Disclosure - Note 9. Consolidated Balance Sheet Details (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2310301 - Disclosure - Note 9. Consolidated Balance Sheet Details (Tables) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2131100 - Schedule - Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink 2431401 - Schedule - Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Details) link:presentationLink link:calculationLink link:definitionLink