28 July 2011

OPEL and LIMEN partner on two 1MW HCPV plants in Sicily

OPEL Solar International Inc of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, which makes high-concentration photovoltaic (HCPV) panels (and both roof- and ground-based solar tracker systems), has signed an agreement with LIMEN SA of Geneva, Switzerland (a joint-stock company operating in real-estate and renewable energies) to supply two HCPV solar utility power plants for Sicily, Italy (each about 1MW in size, and worth $5m in revenue combined).

Beginning delivery in late 2011, the orders for the modules highlight HCPV solar in Italy. The plants will be eligible for receiving the Italian Government’s CPV Feed-In Tariff (FiT), which is currently €0.31/kWh for systems of this size, in addition to the market value for the sale of the electricity produced.

LIMEN distributes and markets solar products for both CPV and PV systems, including trackers, inverters and solar panels based on different technologies. The firm directly owns and manages solar projects and offers customized energy solutions and investment opportunities to third parties. LIMEN’s experience in solar energy includes the design, development and deployment of utility power plants ranging from small private installations to multi-megawatt projects for commercial applications and municipalities.

Going forward, OPEL and LIMEN aim to collaborate closely on the preparation, construction and commissioning of CPV solar power plants. To date, LIMEN has developed a multi-megawatt pipeline of CPV projects in Sicily and Sardinia.

“The collaboration between OPEL and LIMEN in the Italian CPV market represents significant value growth for OPEL Solar's stakeholders because of the HCPV potential in the Italian market,” says OPEL Solar International’s CEO Leon M. Pierhal. “The Italian climate is ripe for CPV; it is one of the best areas in the world for our solar technology to be deployed,” he reckons. 

OPEL’s Mk-I HCPV module is a designed for utility-grade grid-connected solar systems in medium to high solar irradiance climates. The firm says that its panel’s high efficiency results in significantly higher power generation per unit of area compared with both silicon flat panel and thin film installations.

“OPEL Solar has the proven HCPV solar technology to be a market leader in Italy,” believes Roberto Petti Ph.D., head of the renewable energy division of LIMEN SA. “Bringing an advanced solar energy technology to customers allows them to maximize their return on investments in green technology.”

Tags: OPEL Solar

Visit: www.limen.ch

Visit: www.opelinc.com