GE BUYS CSP

GE to buy two Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plants in Spain...

2013 February 13 (Helioscsp)

“...[T]aking steps to reduce its massive debt…[ACS] has reached an agreement…[with General Electric for the concentrating solar power (CSP) Manchasol I and II parabolic trough projects]…in Alcazar de San Juan and CityReal [in Spain]…Both assets [are] already in operation, totaling about 100 megawatts of power…[A final price has not yet been announced]…

“…[Spain’s] Minister of Energy…[just announced] the fourth electricity reform that, unlike the previous ones, also punishes [the country’s many CSP projects owned primarily by Abengoa, Acciona, and ACS…[The amount of the tariff cut-back is not yet clear but the value of the assets will be reduced because it will not] be updated according to the CPI, but with inflation…[The loss is estimated at] 3% annually…”

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“Manchasol complex is the third largest in Europe and fourth in the world. The second plant built in Ciudad Real was the eighth of those developed by ACS in the boom of renewable energy in the stage where Industry Minister Miguel Sebastian subsidized the implementation of all types of clean energy.

“However, because of its huge debt, the holding company…was forced to divest assets valued renewable at 5,000 million euros [though deals have only been closed on half o them to date. Still for sale are the Andasol CSP project and placement five wind farms]…”

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