The leadership race is on!

All this week and also last week I have been receiving numerous (repeated) press releases about CSP. They fall in either of two cathegories: either Acciona claiming how great they are - dedicating the Nevada Solar I plant http://www.redorbit.com/news/business/1267936/acciona_dedicates_nevada_solar_facility/
with celebrities present. And Abengoa claiming how they are set to build the biggest plant to date (in colaboration with APS) 280MW trough plant to be called Solana, in Arizona. http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/25/world%E2%80%99s-largest-solar-power-plant-coming-to-arizona-in-2011/

Both companies are massive and with great PR divisions, that is probably why the same press release has been picked up absolutely everywhere with different names etc; and they have made it to CNN and Times Online here and there. It seems that both are jostling for media leadership in the CSP area.

So many would argue that Abengoa started the race with PS10 - Although it is only 11MW, they have PS20 on the way. Then Acciona made the moves and opened Nevada Solar I in June last year. Now Abengoa has announce a 280MW solar project in Arizona... So it looks like everybody's thoughts are back with Acciona - so what will their next move be, we wonder. This is the fight for a clear leadership; and we cant wait to see what is next.

Of course, other players are not standing still, for example, BrightSource Energy are opening up a tower plant in Israel, is currently under construction and it will go online in June... And most importantly, and this is regarding my other area of interest, CPV is reaching for the stars so quick that both Abengoa and Acciona will have to be very aware of the newest solar players... I am taking about the rather less-out-there press release that CLP group put out there yesterday. This might have not reached your inbox but trust me it will get your interest! Otherwise understood it as, they made it to the front page of the financial times, which is a major achievent in itself.

I am referring, of course, to our Aussie friends of Solar Systems (I dont want to boast but they will be speaking at the CPV conference in Madrid :) Congratulations are in order as they have closed agreement to construct a 154MW project in northern Victoria, Australia, with the CLP group. This will be the biggest of the kind (Solar Systems' technology is dish sterling) and it is certainly a massive leap for CPV; and for solar as a whole... https://www.clpgroup.com/Pages/default.aspx

So now, there is a question remaining... With such fast leaps from the CPV side... how long will CSP maintain the leadership of utility scale solar generation? I cant wait to find out!!!