CSP Today - Markets

Weekly Intelligence Brief: May 13 – May 20

Beatriz Gonzalez — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:53:52 +0000

Précis:

20th May 2013

This week’s CSP Today news brief includes the following companies and organisations:

Reliance Power; The Indian Government’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, the German Ministry for Education and Research; ACWA Power, Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy, Dii; The California Energy Commission, Cogenra.

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Land mitigation: what is best for the beasties?

Jenny Muirhead — Fri, 17 May 2013 08:42:32 +0000

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California believes its land mitigation measures represent best environmental best practice for CSP. Not all environmentalists are convinced, however.

By Jason Deign

It is a safe bet nobody has ever shelled out so much on a tortoise.

Last month Solar Partners, owners of the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System (ISEGS), paid USD$6.2 million for land purchased to mitigate the impact of the ISEGS solar project, which covers nearly 7,000 acres of desert tortoise habitat and 175 acres of state waters.

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CSP Today USA 2013

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The Impact of Shale Gas in CSP development

Beatriz Gonzalez — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:20:55 +0000

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It has always been an unlevelled playing field for renewable energy in an industry dominated by old, cash rich fossil fuel giants with a low of political power.

However, the recent shale gas boom in USA has brought further uncertainty about the future of solar technologies, particularly CSP. With gas price hitting rock bottom, the cost competitiveness of solar projects in the short to mid-term will be harder to meet than ever before.

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CSP Today USA 2013

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Ivanpah site visit announced for CSP Today USA in June

Beatriz Gonzalez — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:55:57 +0000

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Attendees of CSP Today USA 2013 (26-27 June, Las Vegas) will be given a unique opportunity to visit the 392MW Ivanpah Solar Power Facility, the largest CSP plant under construction in the world.

The Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System is set to be commissioned in 2013 and delegates will be able to get an exclusive first look at the facility on the morning of 25 June. Jack Ahearne, the organizer of CSP Today USA, announced the news on Wednesday 15 May. “With Ivanpah coming online this year, interest in seeing the plant has been enormous, not only in the United States but around the world” he said. “We are delighted to give CSP Today USA attendees the chance to tour the plant and see a key milestone in the progress of the CSP industry”.

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CSP Today USA 2013

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Weekly Intelligence Brief: May 6 – May 13

Beatriz Gonzalez — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:10:13 +0000

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This week’s CSP Today news brief includes the following companies and organisations: ACWA, MASEN, African Development Bank Group; The Department of Energy (DoE) in South Africa

The Ministry Of New And Renewable Energy; Masdar, The UK Green Investment Bank; The European Solar Thermal Electricity Association; ARB Industrial Group

160 MW Ouarzazate CSP project begins construction in Morocco

Just over a week after achieving financial close, the 160 MW parabolic trough project being developed by Saudi-based ACWA Power, had its ground breaking ceremony on Friday, 10 May 2013.

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Kuwait’s solar journey comes to light

Jenny Muirhead — Fri, 10 May 2013 09:49:20 +0000

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Until recently, Kuwait’s solar power ambitions mainly revolved around studies and plans. But the oil-dependent country has picked up pace and is now proceeding with three CSP projects.

By Heba Hashem

Despite being the third-biggest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Kuwait’s long-standing dependency on fossil fuels is expected to backfire by as early as 2017. The International Monetary Fund predicted in April that in about four years from now, oil revenues will no longer outweigh Kuwait’s spending, possibly causing the first deficit since 1998.

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CSP Today USA 2013

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KISR launches experimental plant for renewable energy technologies

South African update: Bokpoort achieves financial close whilst the RFP for the next bidding round now open.

Jenny Muirhead — Fri, 10 May 2013 09:27:22 +0000

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Originally scheduled to take place in March 2013, financial close for the 19 renewable energy projects in South Africa’s second bidding window took place on 9 May 2013

Amongst these was the 50 MW Bokpoort project being developed by the Saudi-based ACWA Power and its South African partner, SolAfrica.

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Weekly Intelligence Brief: April 29 – May 7

Beatriz Gonzalez — Tue, 07 May 2013 13:56:02 +0000

Précis:

7th May 2013

This week’s CSP Today news brief includes the following companies and organisations: ACWA Power, ACWA Power Ouarzazate, Acciona, Sener, TSK, The Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy; The U. S. Department of Energy; Abengoa; U.S. Department of the Interior.

ACWA successfully closes Ouarzazate CSP project in Morocco

On 30 April 2013 ACWA announced “The EPC Contractor has commenced engineering and procurement for the plant in accordance with a Limited Notice to Proceed Agreement”.

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Weekly Intelligence Brief: April 22 - 29

Beatriz Gonzalez — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:26:06 +0000

Précis:

29th April 2013

This week’s CSP Today news brief includes the following companies and organisations: The California Energy Commission, The U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Palen Solar Holdings, BrightSource Energy, Abengoa;

The Carbon Trust, The Department of Energy & Climate Change; The U.S. Department of Energy, NREL, California Independent System Operator; The Indian government’s Ministry of New & Renewable Energy.

CEC to conduct workshops for Palen Solar project

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Uncertainty surrounding CSP growth, as natural gas boom continues

Beatriz Gonzalez — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:03:11 +0000

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Last week, Ernest Moniz, Barack Obama's choice to be the next US energy secretary, highlighted the current underinvestment in advanced-energy research.

Moniz proposed that future areas of focus should include “small-scale nuclear reactors, renewable energy, energy efficiency and the capture of carbon-dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants”.

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CSP Today USA 2013

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CSP Cost Reduction - The Role of Government and Research Organisations

Jenny Muirhead — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:52:11 +0000

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Cost reduction remains one of the biggest objectives of CSP developers around the globe. In facing up to this challenge, governments and research organisations could potentially play an increasingly important role.

By Andrew Williams

Cost Reduction
According to Mark Mehos, Principal Program Manager - Concentrating Solar Power Research at the U.S. based National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), there is 'no doubt' that the CSP industry needs to face up to the challenge of cost reduction. However, following lengthy discussions with a wide range of representatives of the U.S. CSP industry, he is confident that 'good progress' is being made.

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CSP Today USA 2013

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Can CSP provide desalination for the Middle East?

Jenny Muirhead — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:12:22 +0000

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In many nations throughout the fast growing Gulf region, upwards of 90% of freshwater must now come from desalinating the surrounding seawater, using fossil energy.

This dependence on a non-renewable energy source to supply a basic necessity represents a serious threat. Can CSP-powered thermal desalination provide a solution?

By Susan Kraemer

The unique properties of CSP, along with some of the best DNI in the world, should create a natural opportunity to provide not only the electricity for the process, but also the heat for thermal desalination in the Middle East where desalination is currently driven by burning hydrocarbons.

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Weekly Intelligence Brief: April 15 - 22

Beatriz Gonzalez — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 11:08:03 +0000

Précis:

22nd April 2013

This week’s CSP Today news brief includes the following companies and organisations: BrightSource Energy, NRG Energy, Google, The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), The California Energy Commission; The Desertec Foundation, TuNur, Nur Energie, TOP Group, Glory Clean Energy; SolarReserve.

Land mitigation deal done for Ivanpah Solar Project

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Revenues for Spanish CSP plants drop 20% whilst another cut is yet to be applied

Jenny Muirhead — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:43:15 +0000

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It’s been three months since regulatory changes in Spain reduced CSP plant revenues, threatening the economic feasibility for many of the plants currently in operation.

By Jorge Alcauza

It has become clear that there will be little, if any, future growth for CSP in Spain in the near future. But what about the plants already in operation? As Spain is the global leader for operational CSP, this is a significant question.

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CSP Today Sevilla 2013

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Weekly Intelligence Brief: April 8 - 15

Beatriz Gonzalez — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:37:54 +0000

Précis:

15th April 2013

The California Energy Commission, BrightSource Energy, Abengoa; The University of New South Wales, The Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics (Australia); The U.S. Department of Energy; The Solar Energy Industries Association

CEC to conduct workshop for Palen project

The California Energy Commission (CEC) staff is scheduled to conduct a workshop for the proposed Palen Solar Electric Generating System amendment in Sacramento, California on April 17.

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Weekly Intelligence Brief: April 1 – 8

Beatriz Gonzalez — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 13:13:55 +0000

Précis:

8th April 2013

This week’s CSP Today news brief includes the following companies and organisations: BrightSource Energy, California Energy Commission, PG&E; SolarReserve, Tonopah Solar Energy; The African Development Bank, World Bank; Flabeg Solar U.S. Corp.

BrightSource suspends permit application for Hidden Hills project

Concentrating solar power technology company BrightSource Energy has chosen to suspend the permit application for the Hidden Hills Solar Energy Generating System project.

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How updating climate-blind environmental laws could speed-up US solar development

Jenny Muirhead — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 13:53:47 +0000

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The US needs to revise the permitting of clean energy projects to properly account for the climate benefits of renewables versus the climate costs of fossil energy. That might finally be happening.

By Susan Kraemer

Seventies-era environmental legislation mandated a very narrow focus on local environmental impacts, without accounting for the bigger picture of climate change. This narrow focus has actually created a hindrance to the adoption of more solar energy in particular, while leaving gas plants unaffected in one of the biggest energy markets.

White House action

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CSP Today USA 2013

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500 MW Hidden Hills CSP project suspended

Jenny Muirhead — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 13:40:40 +0000

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Notice of Suspension submitted to Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission of the State of California

On 3 April 2013, BrightSource Energy submitted a “Notice of Suspension for Application for Certification” to the Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission of the State of California. Despite the application, BrightSource has indicated that it will continue to evaluate and collect information on the project and will

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CSP Today USA 2013

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Weekly Intelligence Brief: March 25 – April 1

Beatriz Gonzalez — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 10:19:04 +0000

Précis:

This week’s CSP Today news brief includes the following companies and organisations: Masdar, MAN Diesel & Turbo, Shams Power Company; Solar Millennium; Protermosolar

The Advanced Technology Centre for Renewable Energies; eSolar, The U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

MAN’s turbine technology expand presence in CSP sector

MAN Diesel & Turbo has shared that its steam turbine is a part of Abu Dhabi-based renewable energy company Masdar’s recently inaugurated Shams 1 100MW project.

Primary Event:

MENASOL 2013

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Weekly Intelligence Brief: March 18 - 25

Beatriz Gonzalez — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 13:32:09 +0000

Précis:

This week’s CSP Today news brief includes the following companies and organisations: Energía Llaima-Sunmark, Banco BCI; SolarReserve, The Saguache County Board of County Commissioners; WWF-Australia, Earth Hour; DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products, DuPont, Tate & Lyle.

Denmark’s Crown Prince visits solar thermal plant in Chile

Denmark’s Crown Prince, Frederik, his wife Princess Mary of Denmark, and the country’s Foreign Minister, Villy Sovdal, recently visited the Pampa Elvira Solar project in Chile.

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Nominations open for CSP Today USA Awards 2013

Beatriz Gonzalez — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:57:06 +0000

Précis:

The CSP Today USA Awards ceremony takes place on 26 June in Las Vegas, and CSP developers, EPC groups, suppliers and technology providers can now be nominated.

2013 is set to be a monumental year for the concentrated solar power (CSP) industry in the United States, with 1312MW of CSP plants set to be commissioned. This will increase the country’s total capacity by a staggering 120%, to 1889MW, making the United States a world leader in operational CSP plants.

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CSP Today USA 2013

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Why CSP should dig for deals in mining

Jenny Muirhead — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 16:28:15 +0000

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Recent studies show a strong interest in renewable energy sources among mining firms. There are good reasons why CSP should be at the head of the queue.

By Jason Deign

You cannot blame a light-starved miner from craving a ray of sunshine. But in recent months, the mining industry has begun taking a much more serious interest in all things solar.

As previously reported, currently the mining industry is present in more than 100 countries around the world.

With demand for raw materials continuing unabated, mining companies should have plenty of cash to spend on operational improvements.

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CSP Today LATAM

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Weekly Intelligence Brief: March 11 - 18

Beatriz Gonzalez — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 15:11:36 +0000

Précis:

18th March, 2013

Masdar, Total, Abengoa Solar; BrightSource Energy, Palen Solar Holdings, The California Energy Commission; Ministry of New & Renewable Energy in India; King Saud University, Desertec Foundation.

Masdar’s Shams 1 goes live

Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, has officially inaugurated Shams 1. The 100MW project is described as the largest concentrated solar power plant in operation in the world.

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Abengoa and BrightSource Energy partner to build the world’s two largest solar power towers

Beatriz Gonzalez — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 10:00:59 +0000

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Two of the world’s leading concentrating solar power (CSP) companies join to build the 500 megawatt (MW) Palen solar complex.

Seville, Spain, March 15, 2013.- Abengoa (MCE: ABG.B), the international company that applies innovative technology solutions for sustainable development in the energy and environment sectors, and BrightSource Energy, a leading concentrating solar thermal technology company, today signed an agreement to jointly develop, build and operate the world’s two largest solar power towers in California.

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Aalborg CSP & Sojitz Corporation wins the CSP Today India best Technology and Supplier Award

Beatriz Gonzalez — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:38:43 +0000

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CSP Today announced the winners of the 1st CSP Today India Awards at a ceremony that took place on Tuesday 12th March, as part of the CSP Today India 2013 conference

Aalborg CSP & Sojitz Corporation was selected because ‘Aalborg supplies the Heat Exchangers for the CSP Plants which is the heart of the system. Aalborg HX ensures proven Technology, best efficiency and reliability which is key factor in CSP progress in India. Most of the advanced CSP projects in India has plan to ride on the reliability of Aalborg’, an anonymous voter said.

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Winners of the CSP Today India Awards announced

Beatriz Gonzalez — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 14:41:47 +0000

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CSP Today announced the winners of the 1st CSP Today India Awards at a ceremony that took place on Tuesday 12th March, as part of the CSP Today India 2013 conference

The winners of this first edition awards include:

CSP Today India Developer Award

Godawari Green Energy

CSP Today India Engineering Performance Award

Lauren CCL Engineers

CSP Today India Technology and Supplier Award

Aalborg CSP & Sojitz Corporation

CSP Today India Personality of the Year

J P Tiwari - Godawari Green Energy

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Weekly Intelligence Brief: March 4 - 11

Beatriz Gonzalez — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 11:44:48 +0000

Précis:

11th March, 2013

The U. S. Department of Energy, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; The Solar Energy Industries Association; The California Energy Commission, The California Depart¬ment of Fish and Wildlife, The U.S. Bureau of Land Management; NRG Energy Services, Azima DLI.

Moniz nominated as Secretary of U. S. DOE

U. S. President Barack Obama last week nominated Ernest Moniz as Secretary of the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE).

He also nominated Gina McCarthy as the Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

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Weekly Intelligence Brief: Feb 25 – March 4

Beatriz Gonzalez — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 11:32:20 +0000

Précis:

4th March, 2013

This week’s CSP Today news brief includes the following companies and organisations: Corfo, Chile´s Ministry of Energy; BrightSource Energy, NRG Energy, Google, Bechtel; RATCH-Australia, Withsunday Regional Council; The California Energy Commission, Hidden Hills Solar I, Hidden Hills Solar II; Arizona State University; Kingdom of Jordan.

Chile launches its first CSP tendering process

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