GE announces record solar efficiency and plans to build $600M solar factory,largest in United States

Rybold · Apr 11, 2011

General Electric Announces Record Solar Efficiency, Plans To Build Largest U.S. Solar Factory

General Electric (GE) has been reinventing itself as a green energy behemoth, beginning with a focus on wind energy, then the smart grid and more recently led lighting and solar. They've even developed an electric car charging station called the WattStation.
This morning they are announcing another big step along the path of its rapid push into the thin film solar market, taking direct aim at First Solar (FSLR). The push has been fueled by key acquisitions particularly of PrimeStar of which it acquired a minority stake in 2007, has had a majority stake since 2008, and today announced it has completed a full acquisition of the company. PrimeStar was developing the cadmium thin film solar panels which is the same technology First Solar is using. Earlier last year I mentioned First Solar had reason to be concerned and that is never more apparent than this morning.
"Over the last decade, through technology investment, GE has become one of the world's major wind turbine manufacturers, and our investment in high-tech solar products will help us continue to grow our position in the renewable energy industry," said Victor Abate, vice president of GE's renewable energy business. "We are addressing the biggest barrier for the mainstream adoption of solar technology-cost-and the NREL certification proves that we are on track to deliver the most affordable solutions for our customers."
GE is saying that its full sized thin film solar panel developed with PrimeStar has been independently certified to be the world's most efficient thin film solar panel at 12.8 percent aperture area efficiency. First Solar reported during its latest earnings report that it had reached 11.6 percent and that it expects to hit 12 percent within a few months. A 1 percent increase in efficiency results in a 10 percent reduction in energy cost, so the current spread isn't insignificant.
GE also announced that it will invest $600 million to build the largest solar panel production facility in the US. At full capacity the 400MW facility will produce enough panels each year to power 80,000 homes. The location of the plant is expected to be announced soon and it's great to see they will keep manufacturing in the US.
"Our plan to open a U.S. solar manufacturing facility further demonstrates our confidence in this technology and is just the first phase in a global, multi-gigawatt roadmap. We're not only excited by the efficiency milestone, but also by the speed at which our team was able to achieve it and the innovation runway for future improvements in this technology."
The good news for GE's solar business doesn't end there. They are also announcing more than 100MW in new orders for its thin film products which include the panels and inverters.
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General Electric Announces Record Solar Efficiency, Plans To Build Largest U.S. Solar Factory | Reuters

jdcollins5 · Apr 11, 2011

Re: GE announces record solar efficiency and plans to build $600M solar factory,largest in United St

GE has a local presence in Wilmington with their Nuclear and Aircraft Engine groups. They have available excess land capacity at their site and we would love to hear that they were considering the Wilmington site.

But the local paper yesterday indicated that sites in South Carolina and a couple of other states were in consideration but not NC Of course with manufacturing site selections and land purchases no one will probably know for sure until after it is official.

caffeinekid · Apr 11, 2011

Re: GE announces record solar efficiency and plans to build $600M solar factory,largest in United St

There is good news, and then there is GE news. Its amazing how much you can control.....err..."acquire" when you are a sitting member of the Federal Reserve cartel.

mojo · Apr 11, 2011

Re: GE announces record solar efficiency and plans to build $600M solar factory,largest in United St

Good time to diversify.
They wont be getting as many Nuke sales,after designing the Fukushima reactors.

bisco · Apr 11, 2011

Re: GE announces record solar efficiency and plans to build $600M solar factory,largest in United St

was not ge going to buy X number of electric cars in their last media marketing propaganda blurb?

Troyroy · Apr 11, 2011

Re: GE announces record solar efficiency and plans to build $600M solar factory,largest in United St

mojo said: ↑

Good time to diversify.
They wont be getting as many Nuke sales,after designing the Fukushima reactors.
Click to expand...

Do your homework before throwing stones. GE can design anything, it's how it's built by the final contractor that makes the pudding.

Troyroy · Apr 11, 2011

Re: GE announces record solar efficiency and plans to build $600M solar factory,largest in United St

Schenectady, NY.......the original home to GE is also in the running.

jdcollins5 · Apr 11, 2011

Re: GE announces record solar efficiency and plans to build $600M solar factory,largest in United St

Troyroy said: ↑

Schenectady, NY.......the original home to GE is also in the running.
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As an ex-GE employee, it would be nice to see GE breathe some life back in to the Schenectady Works. The last time I was up there the place looked like a ghost town.

hill · Apr 12, 2011

Re: GE announces record solar efficiency and plans to build $600M solar factory,largest in United St

Troyroy said: ↑

Do your homework before throwing stones. GE can design anything, it's how it's built by the final contractor that makes the pudding.
Click to expand...

It's the backup and redundant protective systems that are ast issue, anyway. Just like I mentioned on another thread re San Onofre. Even if the fallback provisions are ok, does it really matter? ... if a coastal unit is storing tons & tons of spent fuel rods on site (because environmentalists block its underground storage in AZ), and the 'big-one' hits ... it's game over.

GE announces record solar efficiency and plans to build $600M solar factory,largest in United States

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GE announces record solar efficiency and plans to build $600M solar factory,largest in United States

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