The grand plan of the Desertec Industrial Initiative has a new member in the form of First Solar, the first solar photovoltaic manufacturer to join. First Solar said that it had become an ‘Associated Partner’ of Desertec for an initial period of three years and would contribute utility-scale PV expertise in working groups and prepare the ground for reference projects and a roll-out plan.
“We look forward to working with Desertec to demonstrate the potential of renewable energies – and PV in particular – to deliver clean, reliable power to the people of Africa and the Middle East as well as Europe,” said Stephan Hansen, Managing Director of First Solar GmbH, the company’s European sales and customer service unit for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. “The challenges of energy security and global warming demand bold solutions and Desertec certainly provides an ambitious vision.”
First Solar has already built utility-scale solar power plants in desert conditions.