AREVA gets RPower contract for 250-MW solar project

AREVA Solar, an AREVA subsidiary, has been awarded a contract by Reliance Power to build a 250 MW concentrated solar power (CSP) in Rajasthan.

AREVA said under the contract, it will build two 125 MW CSP plants using its Compact Linear Fresnel Reflector (CLFR) technology and will provide construction management services for the project. The first phase of the project is under construction, with a target commercial operation date of May 2013.

AREVA is currently engaged in talks with Nuclear Power Corporation to supply initially two evolutionary pressurized reactors of 1,650 MW each and later four additional reactors of the same capacity for the proposed 9,900 MW Jaitapur nuclear project in Maharashtra.

AREVA CEO Luc Oursel said: "AREVA is delighted to help deliver on the promise of India’s progressive solar energy goals and to advance Reliance’s bold vision for a global clean energy portfolio. We will leverage our best-in-class experience to help make India and Reliance global solar industry leaders. Following our success in the French wind offshore sector, this contract reinforces the AREVA strategy in renewable energies." This project also further strengthens and diversifies AREVA’s low-carbon energy hub in India.

J P Chalasani, CEO of Reliance Power, stated: "Today’s announcement is just the beginning. We look forward to working with AREVA Solar in helping meet India’s clean energy goals through this project."

In Australia, AREVA Solar was awarded a contract to build a 44 MW solar thermal addition to the coal-fired Kogan Creek power station, and its energy consortium was selected as the preferred bidder for a 250 MW CLFR power plant under Australia’s Solar Flagships Program. And in the USA, AREVA Solar recently announced a partnership with Tucson Electric Power on a solar augmentation project in Arizona.

In total, AREVA Solar currently has more than 500 MW of CSP projects in operation, under construction or in advanced development, making AREVA one the fastest-growing CSP technology providers.