Solar Turbines, a subsidiary of Caterpillar, is often mistaken for a solar energy company due to its name, but it primarily manufactures industrial gas turbines for power generation, marine propulsion, and natural gas/oil processing. Founded in 1927 as Prudden-San Diego Airplane Company, it was acquired by Caterpillar in 1981 and now serves global markets with over 16,000 units installed.
Yes it is natural gas. I think the company might also use Solaris for product branding. Subsidiary of Caterpillar.
They have been using Solar as part of their name for nearly 100 years.
In March 1929, the company changed its name to Solar Aircraft Company, referencing San Diego’s sunny climate.
Over the decades, the company diversified, particularly during and after World War II, focusing on components for other manufacturers and later on jet engine components. By the mid-20th century, it began investing heavily in gas turbine development, anticipating their future importance.
1956: Solar Aircraft Company was purchased by Continental Motors Corporation.
1957: Continental Motors Corporation was acquired by Thompson Products.
1958: Thompson Products merged with Ramo-Wooldridge Corporation to form Thompson Ramo Wooldridge (TRW).
1964: TRW sold Solar to International Harvester Company, and it operated as the Solar Division based in San Diego.
During this period, from 1964 to 1981, the company was known as the Solar Division of International Harvester, focusing on gas turbine-driven compressor sets, pump packages, and generator sets for oil and gas applications.
In 1981 they changed the name when they were bought by Caterpillar. They had been using some variation of a solar name for their company or division for 52 years.
What was solar power doing from 1981 to 1992?
Global solar PV capacity in 1981 was approximately 20 MW.
Solar PV was in its early stages, with small-scale installations and experimental projects.
300 Megawatts globally in 1992.
Many Other Examples of Misleading at First Appearance Company or Product Names
There are tens of millions of companies in the world and tens of billions of products. If people have not tried naming things for companies or getting website domains, it is a very hard process.
What does a company care about with a name? The name has to work within their industry and for their actual customers who will pay them money. The Solar Turbines only started to become confusing in the last 20 years or so but something that is not confusing for anyone who spends tens of millions of dollars buying their natural gas turbines. Also, companies can expand their range of products. They are in the energy business and they could easily pivot into something that does involve solar energy or wind turbines.
Solar Pharmaceuticals Private Limited, incorporated in 1996 in India, was identified as a company in the pharmaceutical sector, not solar energy.
Windstream Holdings, a telecommunications company providing broadband and managed services, was considered (Windstream Holdings). Its name, “Windstream,” might suggest wind energy, but it operates in telecom.
BP (now says this stands for Beyond Petroleum). But they are 98+% an oil company.
BTW: Caterpillar does not sell butterflies or larval insects like caterpillars.
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As he said, it has been named this for many decades. It is not a scam. Right near the Airport. I have seen their sign on their building for decades. Since before PV was a thing people might consider.
San Diego does not have much industry left. Golf clubs, guitars, WD-40, Solar Turbines, General Atomics and some ship building/repair. Not much else. There are some headquarters, for companies that used to do things in San Diego. We used to make aircraft, especially seaplanes.
Aptera may be a thing, if they ever actually start production.
The highest electricity costs in the US, does not help.
Not sure why this is a story.
Solar Turbines is called so because no solar generation power plant can go without a gas powered turbine to manage the varying energy production.
Wind is even worse, at least the Sun is up in a foreseeable way every day.
Oh please, its not complicated people. It’s easier to get away with something, and lie about your bull s***. Of course these days, it may not matter. When you have a President of the United States who I wouldn’t believe who said “water was wet”. Why? Anything Trump says I don’t buy. He lies, he cheats, and worst of all, he doesn’t care who he hurts, Just as long as he makes money. That’s the bottom line. Any questions people who voted for him, who he’s going to hurt you?
“He lies, he cheats, and worst of all, he doesn’t care who he hurts,…”
This can be said for every POTUS in my lifetime and probably in the entire USA history.
But, how Trump compares with people like Barack Obomba, Crocked Joe (and his crackheaded son) and the rest of the bunch?
He didn’t start any war, at least.
Thanks for the long explanation!
Think that was long? Oh, I’ll spare you and everyone else…
😅😂🤣