"The solar power plant at Ashelim won't begin operating before 2013," predicts Solel Solar Systems CEO Avi Brenmiller. He made the comment as he was awarded an Outstanding Exporter Awarded by President Shimon Peres.
"As someone who entered the field in 2002, I am pleased that a solar power plant will finally be building in Israel," Brenmiller said. He added that the global solar power industry has been waiting for this.
Brenmiller said that Solel Solar plans to bid in the Ashelim tender as part of a consortium comprised only of Israeli companies. "The Ministry of National Infrastructures tender for the construction of two solar power stations for the production of 500 megawatts of electricity has attracted great interest worldwide. Many multinationals from the US, Italy, and France want to participate with Solel Solar in a consortium," he said.
"Although were an exporter, we decided to cooperate with an Israeli company because the supply of energy is a critical matter and has the potential for creating many jobs. That's why it's important to us that Israeli companies build the facility."
Branmiller declined to name his partners, but they reportedly include Israel Corp. (TASE: ILCO), which has announced plans to enter the solar energy business.
Brenmiller said that the cost of solar power generated by thermosolar collectors would be NIS 0.69 per kilowatt/hour, compared with NIS 2.10 per kw/h for electricity generated by photovoltaic cells. He notes that the price of coal has tripled in the past three months. "If the authorities took into account the external costs of coal and oil as well as their prices, it would become obvious to everyone that the price of solar energy is becoming more worthwhile."
He predicted that the tender for the Ashelim project would be published in late 2008, the winner announced a year later, and work would begin two years after that - assuming that bureaucratic hurdles are overcome.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on July 15, 2008
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