Downstream Chinese PV giant tries hand at CSP

The Datong project is part of the larger Datong solar demonstration centre that will eventually house 3GW of generation capacity with 1GW to be developed this year. The “high technology base”, operating with approval from the National Energy Administration, will be developed between 2015 and 2017.

A testing facility will also be established onsite by United PV in association with TÜV.

“We will build the Base as a new name card for China’s environmentally-friendly energy by applying the most advanced intellectual power plant management system,” said Lu Zhenwei, Managing Director of China Merchants Capital and Executive Director of United PV.

“[We] will set up a testing laboratory in the Base with TÜV, a famous company in the industry, to continue to explore and promote the new model and new path for scale-development of solar power generation and industrial upgrading, making contribution to the solar power industry in the period of ‘Thirteenth five year plan’ and beyond,” he added.

United PV will be assisted by the Datong Municipal Government which has committed to streamlining the registration and approval process for the site.

The company said it will begin a tender process once land-use rights had been finalised.

It has signed a number of large PV deals in recent months, including a 930MW acquisition, but in a statement to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, United said the project “signifies industry recognition and market leadership of the Group in the solar power industry in China”.