Rebecca Butcher

While the state of Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is gearing up for what may be the world's largest highway-related solar power project, residents are criticising the measure as too expensive—in dollars and in history. Oregon transportation officials propose installing 14,000 to 17,000 solar panels on 15 acres to produce 3.2 million kW/hrs of power each year, or about one-sixth of ODOT's needs.

Siemens AG is currently working on an agreement to acquire 20% of Arava Power Company, one of the tope three solar integrators in Israel. Currently, Kibbutz Ketura owns 40% of the company and a group US investors led by Arava Power president Yosef Abramowitz own the other 60%.

Intersolar North America has continued to grow with this year’s San Francisco exhibition and conference. Between the Intersolar North America and SEMICON West events, there were 560 solar exhibitors and approximately 17,000 trade visitors—an 111% increase for Intersolar’s exhibitor count. Ninety countries were represented within the trade visitors and 23 within the exhibitors.

Moser Baer Photovoltaic (MBPV), a subsidiary of the optics and technology company Moser Baer India, has postponed its October plans to set up a manufacturing facility.

Solar Millennium AG sold 25% stakes from the Andasol 1 and 2 solar plants to ACS/Cobra Group, a Spanish company with a history of buying from Solar Millennium. The sale of the stakes improves Solar Millennium AG’s liquidity situation even further and added an earnings effect of €12 million.

The Portuguese company Martifer Solar and Spire Corporation, located in Bedford, Massachusetts, have announced their mutual satisfaction with the performance of the 50MW fully automated turnkey module manufacturing system developed for Martifer by Spire. The line uses robotic systems, subcontracted by KUKA Systems Germany, for material handling and processing.

Premier Power Renewable Energy, Inc., solar power systems manufacturer for the U.S. and Europe, and Umpqua Bank have entered into a credit and finance agreement. Premier Power is now able to borrow a $7 million line of credit for general working capital needs, which may increase to up to $12 million depending upon Premier Power’s acquisitions.

Abengoa Solar has joined the list of founders for the Desertec Initiative, a project that includes among its members the Club of Rome, the Union of the Mediterranean, TREC, and other institutions. Industry founders also include the industrial conglomerate Siemens AG, power companies RWE and E.ON, re-insurer Munich Re AG, Deutsche Bank AG...

Four companies, BrightSource Energy, Inc., Johnson Controls, Inc., Tessera Solar, and a team of US Energy Partners plus Munich Energy Partners America have proposals to build the first utility-scale solar project in Phoenix, Arizona. The city has called for proposals to build a 150-200MW solar power station situated on a closed landfill.

E.ON has acquired Société Conilhac Energies S.A.S. through a share sale and purchase agreement. This follows the opening of the company’s first solar farm in the south of France, a region ripe for solar power development.