Robert Bosch Gmbh, the German supplier of technology and services, part of the Bosch Group, has decided to pull out of the crystalline solar business due to unattainable competitiveness in the solar market. As a consequence, the company will divest its 90% stake in the solar equipment manufacturer Aleo Solar.
Abengoa and Brighsource Energy have recently entered into a partnership agreement to build two large solar power tower projects, touted to be the two largest in the world. The Palen solar complex will feature two solar facilites, whose combined installed capacity will be about 500 MW.
Shams 1 CSP plant in UAE.
Abengoa, Total and Masdar have officially launched Shams 1, a 100 MW CSP plant in the western part of the United Arab Emirates. This is now the largest CSP project currently in operation.
Canadian Solar and Strata Solar have partnered to develop a total of 85 MW of solar installations at various projects in North Carolina (USA). The two companies will jointly build 15 separate projects.
Trina Solar announced the company will be supplying Gestamp Solar with 30 MW of PV modules for two projects in South Africa. The projects will be built in two locations, near the towns of Prieska and De Aar, in the country's Northern Cape province.
Suntech Power announced recently the completion of the 3.5 MW solar power plant located near Saudi Arabia's capital of Riyadh. The power plant, also the largest solar installation in the kingdom at this time, will produce 5.8 GWh of electrical energy annually. The announcement was made at the World Future Energy Summit, which is taking place in Abu Dhabi.
Hanwha Chemical Corporation is now officially the new owner of Q-Cells SE, as the company has formally been transferred. Q-Cells was involved in insolvency proceedings, but has been able to retain 80% of the workforce despite this process. The PV manufacturer has now become part of one of the largest corporations in South Korea.
First Solar has been awarded the contract to build a 13 MW solar PV power plant by the Dubai Electricity & Water Authority. The power plant is to be located in Al Dahal, some 50 km south of Dubai.
Suntech Power announced the company's new action plan to adapt to new market conditions imposed by what it calls "trade protectionism" (recent US market turbulence) and imbalance between supply and demand. All these factors have contributed to an increase in competition along with a decline in profitability for solar manufacturers worldwide.
Suntech Power and EDP Renovaveis have entered into an agreement under which Suntech is to supply EDP with 39 MW of polycrystalline solar modules. The panels will be used for building four new PV projects in Romania.
