SolarXTRA • news digest
Thailand moves forward - Feb 2, 2010
The announcement of plans to build one of the world’s largest ever PV solar farms near Bangkok has given a boost
to Thai government plans to accelerate national development of PV markets. The plant, to be built at Lop Buri by a
Japanese - Chinese - Thai consortium, will have a capacity of over 70MW. Completion is forecast for 2011, subject to
approval of an environmental impact assessment and normal construction permits.
More good news is also emerging to support the new drive for PV growth: first-phase approval has been given for
a cumulative total of 1 GW of PV generating facilities in Thailand. This first-phase approval means authorisation to
receive the guaranteed feed-in tariff, and is separate from building and construction permits, but is critical to financial
viability of many projects. As if to anticipate the flood of permit applications that will follow, the Thai government has
indicated that five separate application processes for building permits needed for PV installations are to be merged
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under a single umbrella.
All the news is being used as a backdrop to Solar Business Bangkok 2010, Thailand’s first ever national conference
on developing the PV market, to be held on 22/23 March in Bangkok.The 2009 national Renewable Energy Plan
for Thailand gives solar energy the highest national potential among all renewable energy sources, and the March
conference is a key milestone in the drive to accelerate action in business. Apart from providing a full overview of
technology and cost trends to national players, the agenda includes discussions about government guarantees of
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feed-in tariffs, financing mechanisms, and performance and testing standards.
-pv The conference is supported by the Thai Ministry of Energy and leading private-sector players in Thailand and abroad.
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solar
Siemens to invest more than €250 million in India by 2012 - Feb 4, 2010
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As it profits from ongoing growth in the emerging nations, Siemens is seeking to significantly expand its investment in
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India. Experts forecast that the Indian economy, for example, will grow seven percent in 2010 and eight percent the
following year.
“India is already one of the growth drivers worldwide and will remain so in the future. We’ve been optimally positioned
here for over 140 years and intend to further strengthen our position,” said Peter Löscher, President and CEO of
Siemens AG in New Delhi, where the entire Siemens Managing Board met for the first time ever. Over the next three
fiscal years through 2012, the company intends to invest more than €250 million in the country, thereby doubling
its current annual investments. A major part of this will be invested in renewable energy and value-priced products
business. The company also wants to increase its market share in India to ten percent by the year 2012. With recently
signed orders totalling over €500 million, primarily for energy technology, Siemens is well on its way.
The country’s power supply is of particular concern to the Indian government. Currently about 30 percent of India’s
population has no access to power, which is why the Indian government is planning to add 150 gigawatts over the
next seven years – an amount equal to Germany’s entire installed capacity. In addition, 20 percent of the energy
mix should be generated from renewable sources by the year 2020. “Like many other nations around the globe,
India is facing a green revolution. We have the products and solutions for the country and we want to further expand
our position as a green infrastructure provider in India,” said Löscher. One Siemens project involves an investment
of approximately €70 million in the construction of a wind turbine factory in India by 2012. The first turbines are
scheduled to leave the plant in a little over two years.
Siemens also intends to invest in its value-priced products business. Six new centres of competence for value-
priced products from all Siemens Sectors will be established in India by the end of 2010. Plans call for the centres
to manufacture a number of various products, including new products in the area of signalling technology as well as
steam turbines. These centres will also be responsible for the entire value chain, from product design, development
and production to sales and marketing in India and abroad. “India will become a major centre for value-priced
products. By the year 2020, we intend to generate revenue of about €1 billion with these products – both within the
borders of India and beyond,” said Armin Bruck, CEO of Siemens Ltd., the Siemens Regional Company in India.
Siemens has already started off strong in India in the new fiscal year 2010. In recent weeks, the company signed
orders totaling more than €500 million. In the next few years, Siemens will deliver power distribution technology to its
customers Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation and Power Grid Corporation.
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