Can GE Dethrone First Solar from its Leadership of the Solar Energy Market

General Electric (GE) is a Leader in Wind Energy

General Electric (GE) is the most profitable large Wind Equipment Manufacturer in the world and the undisputed king of the USA market.GE has escaped relatively unscathed the 2010 Wind Downturn in Developed Market which has devastated pure play WTG producers like Vestas,Suzlon and Gamesa.With increasing competition from the Korean Shipbuilders and Chinese companies like Sinovel,A-Power,Ming Yang and Goldwind,the prospects in the Wind Energy Industry looks increasingly difficult.Maybe that’s the reason GE is turning towards the other major form of Green Energy.Note GE has decided to become a huge investor in the Green Industry with massive R&D investments.

However it won’t be easy in Solar Energy

GE is now looking to dethrone the No.1 Solar Energy Producer First Solar using its all round strengths.GE had invested in a Cadmium Tellurium Startup Prime Solar which is ramping up production.Note Cd-Te is the same technology which is used by First Solar.GE has said that it has managed to attain 15% efficiency on commercial glass.Don’t know how much of it is true since First Solar only manages around 12% efficiency despite around 10 years of dedicated R&D.However if GE can even manage to get near to that level then it would surely give First Solar a run for its money.GE has also tied up with Japanese Solar Frontier to market its CIGs based modules.Note Solar Frontier or Showa Shell is building a massive 900 MW plant in Japan.This would make Frontier Solar one of the biggest Solar Players in the world.GE is offering an integrated solution comprising of modules,inverters,services and other BOS equipment to get a leg up on competition.

GE faces competition in an increasingly crowded Solar Market

Note GE will not have it easy in the increasingly crowded Solar Energy Market which has seen entry by other heavyweights like Samsung,LG,Hyundai,Du Pont,Siemens,TSMC,AUO,Hanwha,Honda,Toshiba.Note it also faces competition from incumbent pure play solar producers like Sharp,Kyocera,Suntech,Trina,LDK,Yingli and others.In Summary GE has very little chance of replicating its success in the Wind Energy Market

GE Expands Solar Business as Immelt Seeks to Mirror Wind Growth – Bloomberg

GE will work with Japan’s Showa Shell Sekiyu KK’s Solar Frontier unit to make thin-film panels coated with copper indium gallium and selenide, or CIGS, according to a statement today. GE’s PrimeStar Solar plant will make cadmium telluride-based thin film panels. GE will offer total solar-system packages, panels, inverters and service contracts.

“We expect to grow faster than the market and we’re going to do it as a technology leader,” Victor Abate, who oversees GE’s renewable energy businesses, said in an interview, declining to give a revenue target. “This is a big-bet commitment that GE’s making in renewable energy, and the next big phase is solar.”

Japan’s Solar Frontier will have the capacity to manufacture 900 megawatts a year, while Arvada, Colorado-based PrimeStar will be able to produce 30 megawatts with plans for expansion, Abate said.

GE, whose power-generation equipment produces one-third of the world’s electricity, bought Enron’s wind unit for less than $300 million and turned it into a division that’s the biggest in the U.S., with more than $6 billion in annual sales.