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

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
September 11, 2026
The financial difficulties of one of Europe’s best-known downstream solar companies highlight the faultlines running through the continent’s PV and energy storage business.
September 11, 2026
Plans for the US’ “first end-to-end” solar PV critical materials recovery and recycling facility have been announced.
September 11, 2026
This week's PV Chart of the Week profiles the technology breakdown of projected US solar module production capacity.
Premium
September 11, 2026
PV Talk: PERC has the potential to be a “workhorse” in the US cell manufacturing space, Suniva's Matt Card tells PV Tech Premium.
September 11, 2026
Italian power utility Enel has bought two solar PV projects in the US with a combined 625MW of generation capacity.
September 11, 2026
Georgia Power has secured Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) approval for seven solar PPAs totalling 1,137MW under its CARES programmes.

Upcoming Events

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
Solar Media Events
February 2, 2027
London, UK