How It Works: Thin Film Solar, Turning the Sun Into Power (Video)

April 7, 2011

Solar is the next step in GE’s growing renewable energy portfolio — not to mention a key part of its ecomagination commitment to drive the production and use of clean energy technology through innovation and R&D investment.

GE’s work centers on a specific type of solar panel known as CdTe thin film solar. While there are many different types of solar cell technologies — including multiple types of thin film — the key to them all is affordability, which can enable mass production and use.

As Danielle Merfeld, Director of the Solar Technology Platform at GE, explains in this video, “We have been able to develop some astounding improvements in CdTe efficiencies…. The reason why we chose this technology is because out of all of them, it has the best path to the lowest cost — meaning it will have higher efficiency and it will be easier to make. ”

* Learn details about the thin film breakthrough and the new factory being built on GE Reports
* Read today’s thin film announcement
* Read more solar stories on GE Reports
* See our audio slide show interview with Danielle Merfeld
* Read “GE to Build Largest U.S. Solar Panel Plant” in The New York Times

Joseph.m.Dowds

Keep up the good work .Your still bringing good things to life.
Ebenezer Abraham

This is a big step for a future in green energy. Developments like this and economies of scale will make the Solar Panel more affordable and adaptable for various use in future and also reach various corners of the earth.
ekbart

GE is late to the party, has almost zero commitment to solar other than to pursue a minor research project and maybe build one plant. Basically PR fluff. Their bread and butter is selling jet engines to replace the old steam power plants around the world – and that is a worthwhile cause – but let’s not be fooled, they are making serious money operating those power plants, and have ZERO financial interest in renewable technologies that don’t provide continuing revenue. This is the flaw capitalism; the things that cost the most end up getting the most support from industry… only the group can see what is best for the group as a whole, and solar and wind are OBVIOUSLY the technologies of the future and need to be govt. sponsored. Stopping the iraq war for starters would give us enough R&D money to blanket the USA with solar panels.