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Why can't GM re-tool and redeploy those in steam and nuclear generation sectors to work on renewables? The coming wave of solar / wind deployments will be the l

Why can't GM re-tool and redeploy those in steam and nuclear generation sectors to work on renewables? The coming wave of solar / wind deployments will be the largest power-related chunk of capex in a generation.

a_t48 9y ago
/s/GM/GE
chroem- 9y ago
Because renewables, like wind and solar, and thermal power generation are completely different technologies. There is very little in the way of transferrable knowledge and manufacturing tooling between the two.
- beckler 9y ago
  Also the margins on renewables are quite thin due to competition and recent innovation in that space.
  - nielsbot 9y ago
    ...Leading to thin margins on non-renewables (hence the layoffs?)
    - beckler 9y ago
      GE Power's bread and butter is gas turbines, and the margins there are strong. As long as natural gas stays cheap, there is usually demand for turbines. Renewables have obvious issues, which is mostly around demand and load. Like solar can't supply power in the evening. GE's problem stems from foreign competition where growth is. I'm oversimplifying here, but an example would be China pumping infrastructure into Africa. GE can't win in those markets because China can undercut and they don't have the same regulations that the US has.
blattimwind 9y ago
Thermal power plant translates to turbo sets (meaning a turbo generator, which is pretty much the most efficient electrical machine around at >99 %, coupled to a turbo steam turbine. Both run at 3000 rpm (a little more for 60 Hz instead of the more widely used 50 Hz) and are built to utilize the strength of all materials to a significant degree, their design and maintenance is really quite fascinating and requires quite a lot of know-how! - that is somewhat widely available nowadays, though) Non-thermal renewables (wind, water, PV) have zero overlap with those techniques. Wind turbines are slow runners, as are water turbines. PV has no moving parts. Only STE is, or can be, a kind of thermal plant, just with a different steam generator. Given the large unaccounted footprint ("Oh just look how low the carbon dioxide footprint is!") of PV production, STE is probably a rather good idea in comparison.

a_t48 9y ago

/s/GM/GE

chroem- 9y ago

Because renewables, like wind and solar, and thermal power generation are completely different technologies. There is very little in the way of transferrable knowledge and manufacturing tooling between the two.

beckler 9y ago
Also the margins on renewables are quite thin due to competition and recent innovation in that space.
- nielsbot 9y ago
  ...Leading to thin margins on non-renewables (hence the layoffs?)
  - beckler 9y ago
    GE Power's bread and butter is gas turbines, and the margins there are strong. As long as natural gas stays cheap, there is usually demand for turbines. Renewables have obvious issues, which is mostly around demand and load. Like solar can't supply power in the evening. GE's problem stems from foreign competition where growth is. I'm oversimplifying here, but an example would be China pumping infrastructure into Africa. GE can't win in those markets because China can undercut and they don't have the same regulations that the US has.

blattimwind 9y ago

Thermal power plant translates to turbo sets (meaning a turbo generator, which is pretty much the most efficient electrical machine around at >99 %, coupled to a turbo steam turbine. Both run at 3000 rpm (a little more for 60 Hz instead of the more widely used 50 Hz) and are built to utilize the strength of all materials to a significant degree, their design and maintenance is really quite fascinating and requires quite a lot of know-how! - that is somewhat widely available nowadays, though) Non-thermal renewables (wind, water, PV) have zero overlap with those techniques. Wind turbines are slow runners, as are water turbines. PV has no moving parts. Only STE is, or can be, a kind of thermal plant, just with a different steam generator. Given the large unaccounted footprint ("Oh just look how low the carbon dioxide footprint is!") of PV production, STE is probably a rather good idea in comparison.