In December, Tokyo-based Solar Frontier – the largest manufacturer of CIS (copper indium selenium) thin-film photovoltaic (PV) solar modules – formed a strategic EPC (engineering, procurement & construction) alliance with fellow Showa Shell Sekiyu subsidiary Shoseki Engineering & Construction Co Ltd (SEC) and Germany-based BELECTRIC – the world's largest solar EPC firm – to combine their expertise and capabilities in CIS-based solar power plants for the growing Japan megasolar market.
The alliance will leverage BELECTRIC's expertise in megasolar installation, SEC's market knowledge and network of suppliers, and Solar Frontier's technical strength in economical solar module performance. This combination is designed to deliver greater value in overall megasolar projects, says Solar Frontier. The new alliance in Japan builds on the foundation established between Solar Frontier and Belectric, who have worked together since 2010 and established the joint venture PV CIStems GmbH of Gruenwald, near Munich, Germany in 2012 to work on projects around the world.
The firms have already worked together on the Kunitomi Megasolar project in Miyazaki, Japan, which began operating in March 2013. The new alliance agreement formalizes their cooperation going forward, aiming to achieve further efficiency in execution, faster project completion, and optimized return on investment. A project in Kagoshima that started in November will be the first for the trio under the new formalized alliance.
The solar and megasolar market in Japan is rapidly moving toward demand for 'total solutions', say the firms. Solar Frontier, BELECTRIC, and SEC therefore aim to fulfill this demand by working together. The alliance is expected to strengthen the positions of all three in the growing Japanese megasolar market.