NTR’s Stirling Energy Systems Signs Two Significant Manufacturing Contracts
September 30 2009
The contracts with Tower Automotive and Linamar Corporation, both established players in the automotive industry, are central to SES establishing a high-quality, low-cost supply chain for the rapid and scalable production of SunCatchers.
Top auto supply manufacturers to supply SunCatcher components as key milestone on path to mass manufacturing.
NTR plc, the international renewable energy group, announces today that its concentrating solar thermal company, Stirling Energy Systems Ltd (SES), has signed two significant contracts with major automotive suppliers for the production and assembly of SunCatcher concentrating solar power (CSP) system components. The contracts with Tower Automotive and Linamar Corporation, both established players in the automotive industry, are central to SES establishing a high-quality, low-cost supply chain for the rapid and scalable production of SunCatchers.
Tower Automotive
SES and Michigan-based Tower Automotive have signed a long-term supply agreement for production and assembly of the mirror facet component of the SunCatcher. The company, historically known as a global supplier for automobile vehicle manufacturers, with particular expertise in exterior auto stampings, is diversifying its business by investing engineering expertise, capital and facilities for the production of the SunCatcher mirror facets.
Linamar Corporation
SES and Linamar Corporation, SES’s Strategic Supply Partner for production and assembly of the power conversion unit (PCU) component of the SunCatcher CSP system, have reached a major milestone in their partnership for the development and commercialisation of the PCU. Linamar will ship the first PCU this week to SES’s 1.5 MW reference plant in Arizona, (“Maricopa Solar plant”).
The landmark contracts mark the first phase in the high volume production of SunCatchers, which will be deployed by NTR’s Tessera Solar, the exclusive developer of utility-scale projects using the SunCatcher power system. Tessera Solar has contracts to build more than 1,500 MW of new power projects. These projects will deploy more than 60,000 SunCatcher units in California, Texas and Arizona.
Commenting on the contracts, Ian Simington, NTR’s Solar Chief Executive said: “The auto industry is world class in the delivery of rigorous cost, quality and schedule commitments and SES is in the enviable position of leveraging this capability with two leading auto industry suppliers. The agreements enable both Tower Automotive and Linamar Corporation to diversify in to the renewable energy sector, creating jobs and ensuring long-term organic growth in the process.”
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Notes to Editors:
About NTR plc
NTR plc, the international renewable energy group, builds and runs green energy and resource-sustaining businesses. Founded in 1978, NTR has evolved from being a developer and operator of infrastructure in Ireland to an international developer and operator of renewable energy (wind, solar and ethanol) and sustainable waste management businesses in the USA, UK, and Ireland. The company employs over 4,100 people.
About Stirling Energy Systems (SES Inc.)
Stirling Energy Systems (SES) is the global supplier of the SunCatcher solar dish engine system, the latest innovation in modular Concentrating Solar Power (CSP), and next generation of grid‐quality, solar‐electric power generation. The SES SunCatcher combines a mirrored concentrator dish with a high‐efficiency Stirling engine to track, collect and convert the sun’s thermal energy to grid‐quality electricity. The SunCatcher technology has significant advantages over other CSP technology including zero water use for power production, minimal impact to the environment, the highest electric efficiency and cost competitiveness. Founded in 1996, the company maintains corporate headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona, and engineering and test site operations at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico. NTR owns a controlling stake in SES Inc.
About Tessera Solar
Tessera Solar is the exclusive developer/owner/operator of utility‐scale solar power facilities using the SunCatcher solar power system, manufactured by our sister company Stirling Energy Systems (SES Inc.), headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. Tessera Solar North America is headquartered in Houston, Texas, with offices in Scottsdale, Arizona and Berkeley, California. Tessera Solar International is headquartered in London, England. NTR plc is the parent company of Tessera Solar and SES.
About Tower Automotive
Tower Automotive is one of the largest independent global suppliers of automotive metal structural components and assemblies. Tower Automotive serves virtually every major automotive vehicle manufacturer, providing a broad range of metal structures from stampings to complex body and frame assemblies. With corporate headquarters in Livonia, Michigan, U.S., its 8,000+ colleagues operate from 40 manufacturing and product development facilities in 13 countries in North and South America, Europe and Asia.
About Linamar Corporation
Linamar Corporation (TSX:LNR) is a diversified global manufacturing company of highly engineered products. The company’s Powertrain and Driveline focused divisions are world leaders in the collaborative design, development and manufacture of precision metallic components, modules and systems for global vehicle and power generation markets. The company’s Industrial division is a world leader in the design and production of innovative mobile industrial equipment, notably its class‐leading aerial work platforms and telehandlers. With more than 9,000 employees in 37 manufacturing locations, 5 R&D centers and 11 sales offices in Canada, the US, Mexico, Germany, Hungary, the UK, China, Korea and Japan Linamar generated sales of over $2.2 Billion in 2008.