Sources inform ''Globes'' that French energy giant EDF SA (Euronext: EDF) is expanding its Israeli solar energy operations. EDF subsidiary EDF Energies Nouvelles (EDF-EN), which will develop small and mid-sized solar farms in collaboration with EDF joint venture with Veolia Environnement SA (NYSE: VE; Euronext: VIE) Dalkia.
EDF-EN will build five solar farms with a total capacity of 39.5 megawatts on land of Kibbutz Gvulot (5.8 MW), Kibbutz Lahav (3.2 MW), Kibbtz Nahal Oz (6 MW), Kibbutz Miflasim (10.8 MW), and Kibbutz Samar (10.8 MW). Dalkia, through Dalkia Israel Ltd., will provide operations and maintenance services for the sites that EDF-EN will build. Dalkia will also build private power stations, cogeneration power stations, and biomass power plants.
Dalkia owns 20% of Israel Corporation (TASE: ILCO) power plant subsidiary OTC Rotem Ltd., which is building a private power plant near Dimona in the Negev.
EDF-EN began operating in Israel two years ago. Its Israeli operations are run by Sigal Naim. Together with Dalkia, it is building solar power plants with a total capacity of 150 megawatts. It is also bidding in the Ministry of Finance tender to build and operate the 30-megawatt photovoltaic power plant at Ashelim.
The company is also considering entering the wind and biomass energy business in Israel. A deal to acquire Paz Solar Ltd., the solar energy operations of Paz Oil Company Ltd. (TASE:PZOL), fell through.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on October 17, 2011
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