30 July 2013

Alstom and Soitec agree to create a French alliance for CPV power plants

Power generation and transmission firm Alstom and Soitec of Bernin, France, which makes engineered substrates - including silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers and III-V epiwafers - as well as concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) solar systems, have signed a cooperative agreement to provide CPV power plants.

The agreement follows the call for tender issued by the French Energy Regulation Commission in March, seeking to exploit solar power plants using CPV technology (whole or in-part) for a total power capacity of 100MW.

In order to propose a complete and competitive offer, Alstom and Soitec intend to combine their experience in delivering turnkey power plants and in providing integrated solutions and main equipment for power generation on the one hand, and CPV technology, on the other hand. Soitec says that its high-efficiency solar modules are well suited to the solar power production in the South of France.

Alstom and Soitec are seeking to create a sector of excellence that will create jobs and be ready to meet the challenges of the French energy transition. The prospective power plants would also showcase and promote CPV power plants internationally.

“This cooperation with Soitec demonstrates Alstom’s wish to develop its offer and technologies for renewable energies,” says Jerome Pécresse, president of Alstom Renewable Power. “With Solar CSP (concentrated solar power, or solar thermal) we are able to deliver equipment for large-capacity units. Thanks to our cooperation with Soitec in concentrating photovoltaic, we will propose a perfectly complementary offer for high-efficiency power plants with flexible capacity and rapid deployment,” he adds.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), solar energy (including both CSP and PV) could account for 25% of global electricity by 2050 and cover a third of global energy demand after 2060.

Tags: Soitec CPV

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