wiredinUSA August 2015

Desert energy

Solar demo

Negev Energy, a consortium of Israel's Shikun & Binui and Spain's Abengoa, has signed an agreement with the Israeli government to construct a 121MW thermo-solar power plant in the Negev desert at an anticipated cost of around $1.05 billion. The project involves the construction of two solar-thermal power stations under a build, operate and transfer program. Thermo-solar plants use the sun to produce heat that will pass through water to generate steam. The steam is used to generate electricity, unlike photovoltaic plants which convert sunlight directly into electricity. Upon completion, scheduled for the first half of 2018, the project is expected to complement a similar 121MW power plant currently under construction at Ashalim by MegalimSolar Power.MegalimSolar Power is a joint venture between Bright-Source Energy, Alstom and the Noy Fund. Power generated from the new project and the power plant now under construction is expected to account for 2 percent of the country's electricity generation capacity.

Yingli Energy(China)CoLtd,awhollyowned subsidiary of Yingli Green Energy Holding Co Ltd, has been chosen to develop and construct a 50MW solar power plant in Datong City, Shanxi Province, China. The plant will be a key demonstration project at the national advanced PV technology demonstration center, sited on reclaimed mining land in Datong City. Recently approved by the national energy administration as part of its Top Runner program, the new demonstration center plans to become China's foremost national hub for PV technology research and development. Datong City's local government has tasked the demonstration center with installing 1,000MW of solar PV across seven 100MW projects, five 50MW projects, and several smaller PV facilities during the next 12 months. Over 35 companies applied for the rights to develop and construct the 100MW projects, and over 20 companies applied for the rights to develop and construct the 50MW projects. Yingli was selected to develop and construct one of the 50MW projects.

wiredInUSA - August 2015

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