Solar Power World

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I had the opportunity to attend a press conference at Solar Power International  last week where GE discussed plans to build its new thin-film solar panel factory in Aurora, Colorado. When completed, the company says the the facility will create 355 jobs in Colorado and will be larger than any existing solar panel factory in the country. GE anticipates the first panels coming off the line in 2012 with commercial availability in 2013.

An artist's rendering of GE's facility planned for Aurora, Colorado.

Solar panels produced will be more efficient, lighter weight and larger than conventional thin film panels, according to GE. 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.

Colorado already is home to the company’s thin-film solar pilot line. The facility’s location, just east of Denver is also in proximity to GE’s existing solar center, which enables production equipment installation beginning in January 2012. At capacity, the company says the factory will produce enough panels per year to power 80,000 homes and will be larger than 11 football fields. The factory will highlight a $600 million investment in GE’s solar business.

“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. “The Colorado location will allow us to deliver our technology faster and commercialize panel efficiencies sooner. 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.”

U.S. Sen. Mark Udall says the facility is great news for the local economy. “I’m confident that this is only the beginning—I look forward to working with GE and its partners to build its presence and create more good-paying jobs in our state.” Sen. Michael Bennet agrees saying Colorado has plenty of qualified high-skilled workers he welcomes the increased presence of the renewable energy industry.

In support of its expected growth in solar, GE also announced plans to create 100 new positions in New York. Abate says the company plans to add 100 high-tech jobs between its Renewable Energy Global Headquarters in Schenectady and GE’s Global Research Center in Niskayuna.

Watch a video on GE’s technology 

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