First Solar, Inc. (the largest manufacturer of thin film solar modules) and EDF Energies Nouvelles announced that they are in the final stages of exclusive negotiations with the town of Blanquefort, near the city of Bordeaux, to locate a new solar panel manufacturing plant.

The plant, co-financed by First Solar and EDF Energies Nouvelles (EDF EN), will be operated by First Solar and sell its entire production of innovative, thin-film photovoltaic panels to EDF EN for its first 10 years of operation.
Construction is expected to begin in the second half of 2010 and a full production capacity of more than 100 megawatts (MW) a year is to be reached in early 2012.

The plant is expected to create up to 400 jobs in the region of Aquitaine and represent a total investment of approximately EUR 100 million ($150 million1). The decision to focus on Blanquefort for the manufacturing plant follows an extensive review of potential sites throughout the country. First Solar and EDF EN expect to finalize all remaining agreements in the coming weeks.
First Solar and EDF EN believe that France will become a major market for solar electricity in Europe thanks in large part to forward-looking French solar policies.
“Blanquefort is the ideal location for our second manufacturing facility in Europe and producing there will bring us closer to the French solar market, which we believe has the potential to become one of Europe’s brightest,” said Rob Gillette, Chief Executive Officer of First Solar. “We look forward to deepening our relationship with France. Aquitaine has impressed us with its passion, excellent infrastructure and highly skilled workforce.”
“EDF Energies Nouvelles is very proud to see the achievement of a key milestone in this strategic partnership with First Solar. Securing a competitive supply of modules will allow us to optimize and speed up the deployment of our ambitious French solar program,” said David Corchia, Chief Executive Officer of EDF Energies Nouvelles. “We also believe that this will be a key catalyst in the development of a strong solar industry in France.”
First Solar’s manufacturing site will also include a facility for recycling solar panels, France’s first such facility. First Solar operates the solar industry’s first comprehensive, pre-funded collection and recycling program to encourage the recovery of its panels and re-use of materials.
Source: www.firstsolar.com

By endowing Šoštanj Thermal Power Plant (TEŠ) in EUR 85 mio € and payment of the amount contracted supplier the main technological equipment, not least as well as the acquisition environmental agreement, have been obtain (in december 2009) all the conditions for starting the construction of Block number 6.

The investment in Block 6, ranges € 1.1 billion and without the cost of financing the 997 million €.
This will be estimated at around EUR 300 million own HSE, 100 million own investor, this is the TES, 550 million, EIB loans, other loans (EBRD, business banks) and investment business partner / partners 200 million.

Company Alstom has been awarded to be a supply contract, worth approximately €700 million, by Slovenian state-owned utility, Termoelektrarna Šoštanj d.o.o., for the construction of a 600 MW coal-fired steam power plant at Šoštanj in northeast Slovenia.

The equipment installed will be a STF60 steam turbine, a TOPGAS generator and a once-through tower type boiler with ultra supercritical steam parameters.

The new plant, operational by the end of 2014, will double the generation portfolio and generate approximately one third of Slovenia’s power production, thus allowing Slovenia to reduce its dependency on energy imports.
The project will have an important local impact, enabling production of the nearby coal mine to remain at full capacity instead of being reduced by half, and will secure employment in the region, especially at the power station, the coal mine and in ancillary industries.
Source: TEŠ and Alstom

Private, public and industrial buildings consume 40 per cent of world primary energy, which causes 33 percent of carbon dioxide emissions. This is more than the share of road transport. Improving the energy efficiency of new and existing buildings by optimizing the development of the building, better service and strengthening the innovative power is therefore very important for climate protection.

The increasing demand for energy efficiency, increasing demand for affordable housing as a result of demographic changes, as well as effective implementation and operation of buildings, opening new opportunities for businesses in the construction industry.
The aim of the symposium is to provide information on the potential in the modernization and construction of buildings, as well as financing and funding opportunities. Experts report on the successfully implemented construction projects with innovative solutions for energy efficiency and economy, the representative of the latest scientific research approaches in the construction industry.

With contributions from, among other things:
• Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Infrastructure, Transport and Technology
• Bavarian State Ministry of Finance
• BulwienGesa AG
• Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics, Stuttgart
• HOCHTIEF Project Development
• Joseph Foundation, Ecclesiastical housing companies

In addition, the symposium took place during a panel discussion with experts from policy, research and housing instead of theme - “Building the future: economic, energy efficient and affordable”

Symposium accompanying trade exhibition will be architects and designers, construction, construction and trade, and research institutions, communities and potential customers with an ideal platform to exchange information and experiences and to initiate new cooperation for future building projects.

Basic data: 10 März 2010, Saal Cramer Klett, IHK Akademie Mittelfranken, Nürnberg
Contact: www.bayern-innovativ.de/bau2010/einladung