PARADIGM SHIFT IN SUN

The New Utility-Scale Era? Major Project Acquisition Spells Tech Changeover
Jessica Lillian, 6 October 2011 (Solar Industry)

"Solar Millennium AG and solarhybrid AG, both based in Germany, have entered into an agreement under which solarhybrid will acquire Solar Millennium's solar project portfolio in the U.S. Southwest…[and] the entire project pipeline - which totals 2.25 GW - will be converted to PV technology.

"…[T]hree main projects in the U.S - the 1 GW Blythe project, the 500 MW Palen project and the 500 MW Amargosa Farm Road project - were all originally planned as concentrating solar power (CSP) plants."

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"Development of the massive Blythe plant, currently under way in California, has already…[been converted to PV] as CSP continues to fall out of favor for large-scale solar development in the U.S…[as was] K Road Power Holding Co.'s 850 MW Calico solar project…Developers have cited better project financeability and reduced land impact as primary reasons for turning to PV technologies.

"solarhybrid USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of solarhybrid AG, will serve as general contractor and perform the engineering, procurement and construction duties for Solar Millennium's plants. Construction may begin on the Blythe plant as early as 2013…Solar Millennium says it will now focus on CSP and hybrid power plants in Europe, Asia, North Africa and Latin America, although it is still expected to retain a financial stake in its U.S. projects…"