Desertec Industrial Initiative taps CSP expert Ranier Aringhoff as new COO

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

Ranier Aringhoff has been appointed as chief operating officer and management board member of the Desertec Industrial Initiative joint venture. He will be responsible for the conceptual preparation and planning of reference projects.

Aringhoff previously worked as president of Solar Millennium in Berkeley, CA, where he headed the company’s concentrated solar power (CSP) project development in the U.S. As president of the project companies, he headed the project development of the Andasol power plants in southern Spain, Europe’s first commercial parabolic trough plants. He also has comprehensive experience in project development and energy consulting and has worked, among other locations, in Greece, Jordan, and Morocco.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

Paul van Son, CEO of Dii, noted how Rainer’s “outstanding track record in the field of solar thermal power plants will be very important for Dii’s reference projects. The aim of these projects is to integrate all relevant aspects of Desertec in a systematically developed environment.”

“They shall provide renewable energy from sun and wind for local supply and for transport from MENA [Mediterranean Europe North Africa] to Europe,” he continued. “Our intention is to use all relevant and field-proven technologies for power generation and transmission in order to gather important findings for a long-term roll-out plan for Desertec. The development and integration of local industries will also play an important role.”

Read Next

October 22, 2026
Danish developer European Energy has signed 30-year agreements with Traditional Owners covering three solar-plus-storage projects in Queensland, Australia, including the 1.1GW Upper Calliope solar PV plant.
October 22, 2026
Solar and battery storage projects have pushed Australia's National Electricity Market (NEM) connection pipeline up 43% in a year to 80.9GW, overtaking the grid's existing 77GW of capacity for the first time.
October 22, 2026
New Zealand solar PV generator Lodestone Energy has started trading on the NZX Main Board after raising NZ$75 million (US$43 million).
October 21, 2026
The Shanxi Installation Group has selected Spanish engineering consultancy IDOM to design its 500MW Al Kamil I Solar Project in Oman.
October 21, 2026
Solar power generation facilities can be exposed to risks from the effects of hailstorms, snow and typhoons, according to kWh Analytics.
October 21, 2026
The EBRD has announced a US$265 million loan for a new 1.2GW solar PV plant, to be co-located with a 600MWh BESS, in Minya, Egypt.

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
November 3, 2026
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
November 24, 2026
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
February 2, 2027
London, UK
Solar Media Events
April 20, 2027
Istanbul, Türkiye