As part of a $600 million investment, GE is planning to build the largest solar panel manufacturing plant in the United States, after a breakthrough in technology.
Yesterday, GE announced that its CdTe (cadmium telluride) thin film solar panel has achieved 12.8 percent efficiency, as measured by the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL)—the highest-ever reported efficiency for a thin film solar panel. A one-percent increase in panel efficiency equals around a 10 percent decrease in system cost.
“Milestones like these are pivotal as the United States looks to drive widespread adoption of solar technologies,” said Ryne Raffaelle, director of the National Center for Photovoltaics at NREL. “It’s great to see technology that started at NREL ready to move into the market.”
The big draw back with solar power up to now has been cost, and there are great rewards available for those who can produce it more cheaply. This new efficiency breakthrough was developed by scientists and technologists at GE’s Global Research Centers and the recently acquired PrimeStar Solar, Inc, a thin film solar technology company in which GE previously held a majority equity stake.
The panels will be produced at a new 400 MW solar plant that will be the country’s largest and will produce enough panels to power 80,000 homes annually, with a solar panel coming off the assembly line every 10 seconds.
No announcement has yet been made as to the location of the new facility.
GE has also recently acquired Converteam, a company with technology that integrates renewable power—including solar panels—onto the grid.
Global demand for photovoltaics is expected to grow by 75 gigawatts over the next five years, with utility-scale solar power plants making up a significant part of that growth.
“Our plan to open a US 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,” 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.”
