# GE Takes Huge Leap Toward More Affordable, Accessible Solar

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/05/ge-takes-huge-leap-toward-more-affordable-accessible-solar/
- Published: 2011-05-16T18:36:54-04:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

In the world of renewable energy, cost and efficiency are key to making the technology
affordable. Today, GE announced the highest-ever reported efficiency for CdTe thin
film solar panels — a huge step toward making more solar available and affordable
on a large scale. To make the technology, GE plans to build the largest solar plant
in the U.S.

Solar efficiency is, of course, all about measuring how well the sun’s power can
be converted to electricity. Now, GE’s full-size CdTe (cadmium telluride) thin film
solar panel has achieved nearly 13 percent efficiency, as measured by the National
Renewable Energy Lab (NREL). To put this number into perspective, a one-percent 
increase in panel efficiency equals around a 10 percent decrease in system cost.

This new efficiency breakthrough was developed by scientists and technologists at
GE’s Global Research Centers and PrimeStar Solar, Inc. — a company in which GE has
held a majority equity stake since 2008 and has now just acquired in full. The solar
buy follows the recently announced acquisition of Converteam, which makes critical
technologies that help integrate renewable power — including solar panels — onto
the grid.

The new panels will be produced at a new 400 MW solar plant that, once completed,
will be the country’s largest and will produce enough panels to power 80,000 homes
annually. As Danielle Merfeld, Director of the Solar Technology Platform at GE, 
explains in our accompanying video, that’s one solar panel coming off the assembly
line every 10 seconds. The new facility is part of an expected $600 million plus
investment made by GE in solar technology and commercialization.

In addition, today GE announced more than 100 megawatts of new commercial agreements
for solar thin film products, including panels, inverters, and total solar power
plants. GE’s largest solar agreement to date remains with NextEra Energy, for 60
megawatts of thin film solar panels. Once deployed, the panels will help grow NextEra’s
solar power portfolio, solidifying the company’s position as the largest generator
of solar energy in the U.S.

GE also has signed a 20 MW solar agreement with Invenergy for the supply of thin
film solar panels and GE Brilliance solar inverters. Invenergy, a Chicago-based 
clean energy generation company, will install the [solar products](https://greenlivingguy.com/2020/03/installation-of-solar-panels-on-home-can-increase-value-by-4-percent-during-resale/)
at a project site in Illinois that, upon completion, will be one of the largest 
solar installations in the state.

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 greenlivingguy

 The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living
expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author,
Radio Host, Reporter, Writer and an Environmental Consultant on green living. The
Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the green guru guides
and more. Seth's books range from: # Build Your Own Electric Vehicle by Bob Brant
and Seth Leitman (2nd and 3rd editions) # Build Your Own Plug-in Hybrid Electric
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Lighting by Seth Leitman, Brian Clark Howard and Bill Brinsky # Solar Power For 
Your Home by David Findley # Renewable Energies For Your Home by Russel Gehrke #
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