How can CSP developers add value to projects to make them attractive and irresistible to utilities/energy off takers
Autor: Eduardo Salvato | Publicado: 2011-01-31T10:36:00-08:00

24 September 2010This is question at the forefront of everyone’s minds in the CSP industry, and when asked you will never get the same answer twice. The organisers of the CSP Project Development Conference (Oct 25 -26, Denver), posed this question to the industry as part of a competition to win a complimentary ticket to the event.The winning answer came from is Mark Janick, Technical Director, AREVA who emphasised the fact that you need to go back to basics and develop a strong base with local communities;‘Local Participation - This is often the key that puts projects over the TOP!  Plant sitting is often a very local phenomenon and winning the hearts and minds of the local community (and deflecting or responding to local concerns is a truly local issue).  The biggest local leverage that most projects have is JOBS, JOBS, JOBS – both during construction and the indirect benefits of having the construction occurring in the community.  Studies have been done that each $1 in direct salary and wages in the community translates to $2 in the community.  Projects that sell economic benefits and work closely with community and business leaders are often the ones that get green lighted versus others that are less effective get tied up in litigation and NIMBY concerns.’Another great answer came from Mark Turley, Market Manager Renewable Energy, Sapa Extrusions, as he outlined a refreshing perspective of a supplier and how developers can engage them at early stages and ask more from them then manufacturing.‘For the most part over the past few years, CSP developers have kept potential suppliers an arm’s length and have not encouraged interactions between potential high value partners. Suppliers to CSP projects are a key source of product information, marketing strategy, cost reduction possibilities and collaborative thinking.A large group of manufacturing companies lobbying and educating the benefits of projects at the local and state levels will add value to the overall market drive. Although recently it appears the developers are extending their reach into the supply chain, some still have not truly embraced the idea suppliers, especially high value suppliers, can add value to the mix.For instance it would be of great value to support and interact with suppliers in order for them to gain complete understanding of the CSP developer’s goals and to be able to articulate a positive position within the local communities where they produce products.Another advantage of encouraging interactions between suppliers would be to stimulate an aggressive cost reduction approach where all suppliers take part in a cooperative goal. If the developer puts out a goal of a 10% cost reduction this team could attack the target together, understanding the end result will benefit the whole rather than the individual parts.’The ideas raised here are just an example of the many that will be discussed in depth by the stakeholders of the CSP industry. Especially with the need for increasing project scale is driving a round of partnerships and acquisitions that could soon see the CSP industry reduced to a few vertically-integrated monoliths.If you would like to find out more about the CSP Project Development Conference (Oct 25 – 26, Denver) please contact:Heidi HafesCSP Todayheidi@csptoday.com