NTR Firm Wins Boeing Solar Contract

BusinessWorld.ie : March 31 2010

Irish-based renewable energy group, NTR, today said that one of its companies has won a major contract with Boeing to develop new solar power technology. Stirling Energy Systems (SES), in which NTR has a controlling stake, and the Boeing Company have formed a strategic partnership to complete the commercialisation and deployment of Boeing’s XR700 high-concentration photovoltaic (HCPV) solar power technology.

Through a licensing agreement with Boeing, SES has acquired the exclusive worldwide rights to develop, manufacture and deploy the HCPV technology. SES will lead the commercialisation process, with Boeing providing technical program development and engineering expertise under a contracting partnership.

NTR’s Tessera Solar, a sister company of SES, will be responsible for development, construction and operation of the solar power facilities using the technology. SES is currently deploying its SunCatcher concentrating solar power (CSP) technology which provides utility scale solar power using a Stirling engine to convert the sun’s heat to electricity. In January, SES and Tessera Solar unveiled the first commercial-scale deployment of the SES SunCatcher at the 1.5-megawatt (MW) Maricopa Solar Plant in Peoria, Arizona.

“Boeing’s selection of SES and Tessera Solar as strategic partners for their solar power technology demonstrates the strength of the businesses’ technology and development expertise,” said Ian Simington, Chief Executive, Solar Division, NTR plc. “Access to new project development opportunities will complement SES and Tessera Solar’s existing utility-scale offering and strengthen their position as solar energy leaders.”