Soitec to scale back US CPV operations after 150MW project falters

December 23, 2014
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

CPV producer Soitec said a 150MW CPV power plant previously announced would be scrapped as the customer, San Diego Gas & Electric was said to have encountered a “major roadblock” in developing the project. 

Soitec said in a statement: “Certain of the administrative conditions pertaining to the transaction could not be fulfilled timely. Soitec will therefore not receive the expected CPV systems order from the designated EPC contractor which was anticipated to leverage its US cost base.”

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

As a result if the cancelled project, Soitec said it would scale back its CPV module assembly operations in San Diego facility, while pursuing new business opportunities in the US. 

Soitec said that its project pipeline for the 2015-2016 fiscal year was around 70MW in sales. The company expects to announce an impairment charge in order to reflect on the adjusted US pipeline of projects.

In April, 2014 Soitec lost a CPV deal with Tenaska Solar Ventures when a planned 150MW PV power plant in Imperial Valley, California was completely switched to conventional PV modules. 

At the time, Soitec said that its San Diego assembly plant would not be affected by the lost order as it supported its global CPV project business.

The company also noted that its 44MW CPV plant built in South Africa successfully completed all requested testing procedures and had received confirmation from the South African utility, Eskom for the final commissioning of the plant, which we trigger final payment for the plant. 

Read Next

Premium
March 27, 2026
PV Tech Premium explores the challenges of solar panel recycling, the evolving policy landscape and opportunities for recyclers in the US.
March 27, 2026
The US International Trade Commission (ITC) has begun an investigation into tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) solar products in the US, following a complaint by US thin-film module manufacturer First Solar.
Premium
March 27, 2026
PV Tech spoke with Maximo on the use of robotic solar installation solution at AES' Bellefield utility-scale project and upcoming trends in PV robotics.
Premium
March 27, 2026
Arthur Cao outlines how fresh approaches are needed to ensuretracker-based PV systems are designed adequately to avoid unnecessary failures.
March 27, 2026
Two module production facilities in China have been awarded the first Supply Traceability Standard certifications by Europe’s Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI).
March 27, 2026
Axpo will supply 83GWh of solar to McDonald’s under a 10-year PPA, while EDP adds 90MW with two Navarra PV plants.

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
April 15, 2026
Milan, Italy
Solar Media Events
June 16, 2026
Napa, USA
Solar Media Events
October 13, 2026
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
Solar Media Events
November 3, 2026
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
November 24, 2026
Warsaw, Poland