China Solar Projects Draw Interest From 50 Companies (none from US)

[jpak]

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-08-12/china-solar-projects-draw-interest-from-50-companies.html

China’s effort to double its capacity to produce solar power has attracted project bids by 50 companies, ranging from nuclear plant operators to circuit-breaker makers, one of the participants said.

The tender process has generated 135 offers to build and run solar plants in six provinces, including from China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group Co., the nation’s second-biggest atomic plant builder, according to Qiu Zhanwei, vice-director of Beijing-based solar-module maker Astronergy, which also has bid.

“A lot of companies are interested in getting involved in these projects as the government is keen to develop this sector and they want to get an early piece of the action,” said Dennis Lam, an analyst at DBS Vickers Hong Kong Ltd.

China is offering subsidies, loans, tax breaks and premium rates to spur renewable energy. The world’s biggest air polluter is seeking to boost its installed capacity of sunlight-driven generation by more than 60-fold to 20,000 megawatts by 2020 to cut its reliance on fossil fuels, which produce more emissions. About 80 percent of the nation’s power plants run on coal.

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[mcollins]

1. Have you read any work from Dr. Seth Potter?

He was and is a lead in Space Based Solar Power. I got a chance to talk to him a while back. He said the only reason we don't supply all our power from the sun is the cost.