Technology company GE have announced plans to build the largest solar manufacturing plant in the United States. The plans coincide with GE declaring their new thin-film solar panel has been independently certified as the most efficient ever.

GE intends to manufacture the record-setting solar panels at a new U.S. factory that, at capacity, will produce enough panels per year to power 80,000 homes annually. The 400-megawatt facility will be larger than any U.S. solar panel manufacturing plant in operation today.

Victor Abate, Vice President of GE’s renewable energy business said: “We are addressing the biggest barrier for the mainstream adoption of solar technology-cost-and the NREL certification proves that we are on track to deliver the most affordable solutions for our customers.”

Global demand for solar panels is expected to grow by 75 gigawatts over the next five years, with utility-scale solar power plants making up a significant part of that growth.

GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs about 300,000 people worldwide.