GE to Expand Battery Start-Up in New York's Capital Region

GE

announced Tuesday that it will expand its new, advanced manufacturing battery factory here, which is part of the company's new Energy Storage business. The new Durathon battery products, which are half the size of conventional lead acid batteries but last ten times longer, are the result of GE's $100 million initial investment in battery technology developed at GE's Global Research Center in nearby Niskayuna, NY. The breakthrough technology will provide reliable and cost-effective energy storage options for a broad range of GE customers globally, including telecom and utility operators. “This is how GE does ‘startups' – putting our researchers, manufacturing talent and commercial teams to work to create technology that serves customer needs around the world” GE announced today that it will invest an additional $70 million to expand the Schenectady plant, effectively doubling production and adding 100 new jobs, which will bring the total factory workforce to 450 when at full capacity. GE Chairman & CEO Jeff Immelt said, “Just a few years ago, researchers in our labs invented a new battery, one that was simple in its ingredients but advanced in its design and science, containing more than 30 patents. It soon became obvious that we weren't just making a new battery; we were building a new business, so GE teams went to work designing an advanced manufacturing process to build the battery efficiently and a go-to-market strategy to ensure it can reach customers where they work.