With such high levels of technological advancements and degrees of government involvement, the solar-power industry is fraught with risks. First Solar (FSLR 2.12%) is one player that's been around long enough to see several of its high-profile contenders fall by the wayside -- last year's high-profile bankruptcy of Solyndra last year being just one example.

In the following video, our Foolish analysts take a closer look at First Solar, a company that develops, builds, and sells solar modules in the United States and abroad. Its thin-film semiconductor technology has allowed it to gain a $2 billion market capitalization in a relatively new industry, but as with any company in this sector, there are risks to be aware of.