NEWS I ROUNDUP
GE plans to build largest US solar factory in Colorado
GE announced plans to build its new solar panel factory in Aurora, Colorado. When completed, the advanced manufacturing facility will create 355 jobs in Colorado and will be larger than any existing solar panel factory in the country today. GE anticipates the new factory will first start up earlier than expected with the first panels coming off the line in 2012 with commercial availability in 2013.
GE will locate the factory in an existing building in Aurora, just east of Denver. This location, which also is in proximity to GE’s existing solar centre of excellence, enables an accelerated start-up schedule with production equipment installation beginning in January 2012. At capacity, the new factory will produce enough panels per year to power 80,000 homes and will be larger than 11 football fields. When complete, the new solar factory will highlight a $600 million investment in GE’s solar business.
Colorado already is home to GE Energy’s thin film solar pilot line, where joint technology advancements from GE’s Global Research Centre and PrimeStar Solar have been validated and tested. GE completed the acquisition of PrimeStar earlier this year.
“Working with our Colorado based solar team, we were able to achieve record efficiencies in our solar panels in record time,” said Victor Abate, vice president of GE’s Renewable Energy business. “ We also look forward to continuing to build our relationships with Colorado’s local, state and federal officials who have been extremely helpful as we moved through the site selection process.”
In support of its expected growth in the solar space, GE also announced plans to create 100 new positions in New York. “We plan to add 100 high-tech jobs between our Renewable Energy Global Headquarters in Schenectady and GE’s Global Research Center in Niskayuna,” Abate said. “The Cuomo administration has demonstrated a change in business culture in New York state.
“Bringing 100 new high-tech jobs to the Capital Region without any taxpayer subsidy is a real victory,” said New York Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy. “With this announcement, we are once again proving that New York state is open for business and well positioned to create new economic opportunities across our state. We look forward to continuing to work with GE and support the growth of their solar business here in New York.”
Solar panels produced in GE’s new Colorado factory also will be more efficient, lighter weight and larger than conventional thin film panels. Higher efficiency is a key component of GE’s commitment to offer advanced solar products while reducing the total cost of electricity for utilities and consumers. Lighter panels will facilitate easier installation and enable important applications including commercial rooftop. Larger-sized panels help to lower total system cost by reducing the amount of racking and electrical components required.
Abate added, “We are building out our global solar business now because of our technology innovation and economics. We remain on track to deliver the most affordable solutions for our customers as we continuously improve this technology.”
GE has dramatically grown its wind business through technology and scale since entering the space in 2002 and anticipates a similar trajectory for solar given recent technology breakthroughs. GE has more than 27 gigawatts of wind and solar resources installed around the world.
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www.solar-pv-management.com I Issue IX 2011
$130 Billion for Renewable Energy
GERMANY’S KfW banking group is facilitating renewable energy and energy efficiency investments in Germany with EUR 100 billion over the next five years. Germany is the world’s largest PV market and leading wind energy generator in Europe. This boost will further decrease investment risk and accelerate the country’s move to renewable energy.
“With the decision to abandon nuclear power earlier this year, it was clear that the road ahead would be challenging. But Germany is in a very promising position to be the first industrialized country to rely entirely on renewable energy,” said Tobias Homann, photovoltaic industry expert at Germany Trade & Invest in Berlin.
The new KfW loans and projects target a range of energy areas, including energy efficiency, smart grids, as well as wind and solar energy generation. In 2010, 40 percent of photovoltaic installations were financed by the KfW Bankengruppe. Although the spotlight has recently been on wind energy, photovoltaic energy in Germany recently made headlines for surpassing hydropower in total energy generation. Photovoltaics continues to be a critical component in the energy transition, especially as grid parity is around the corner.
The implications of a grid parity market in Germany are wide reaching. As falling system prices are making solar electricity cheaper than power from the socket, this could spur homeowners to purchase rooftop systems. And with a preference among rooftop system buyers for high-quality products and local production, manufacturers located in Germany are able to market a “Made in Germany” product with a competitive advantage. This grid parity market shift is expected to create business opportunities for solar companies, as market dynamics are accelerating development of energy storage, smart grid and smart home technologies, as well as financing, leasing and utility business models.
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