Thermo-solar energy system developer Solel Solar Systems announced today the opening of a $9 million factory in Finland together with glass processing technology firm Glaston.
The facility will produce parabolic solar reflectors for Solel’s solar field projects. The solar reflectors are crucial components of the thermo-solar fields that Beit Shemesh-based Solel looks to set up in Spain and the US.
The facility was built by Glaston, and its employees will run the factory. The factory contains unique equipment conceptualized by Solel, and designed and built by Glaston according to Solel's specific technical requirements. Operations will begin this month.
The factory has the capacity to produce 240,000 parabolic solar reflectors a year, enough to power a 50 MW power plant. It is located in The facility is located in Akaa, about 200 kilometers north of Helsinki.
Solel Solar Systems CEO and president Avi Brenmiller said, “By producing our next generation of parabolic solar reflectors, this new factory will help us advance our SunField LP solar fields, in Spain and around the world, and provide our customers with guaranteed performance.”
“Demand for solar energy through concentrating solar power solutions is growing rapidly, giving new opportunities for our technology. Our partnership with Solel is an important step to focus on this market,” said Glaston CEO and president Mika Seitovirta. "We have tailored our solutions to meet Solel's technical requirements, and the result is both cost-effective manufacturing and highest-quality reflectors."
Solel has already announced a number of contracts to supply solar thermal technology to Spanish developers and has recently completed the re-supply of most of the solar receivers for the solar power plants under commercial operation in California's Mojave Desert. Solel’s American division, Solel USA, has a signed agreement with Pacific Gas and Electric Company to deliver 553 megawatts of solar power from the Mojave Desert by 2012.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on September 10, 2008
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