AIRLIGHT ENERGY cooperates with a major global turnkey contractor

Concentrated Solar Power has huge market potential. According to a study carried out by Greenpeace International, the European Solar Thermal Electricity Association, and the International Energy Agency's SolarPACES concentrated solar power could account for up to 25% of the world's energy needs by 2050 and the estimated annual investment could potentially reach USD 90bn.

AIRLIGHT ENERGY is going to cooperate with the core team for renewable energy of Saipem. AIRLIGHT ENERGY is a Swiss clean-tech provider that supplies innovative solutions for solar energy and that has invested ~80 CHF m (eq. to EUR ~64.5 m or ~84.4 USD m) in the last two years for the development of new technologies. Thanks to these investments AIRLIGHT ENERGY is the first company worldwide to develop a receiver that uses air as a thermal vector and the plants can operate up to 24 hours by using the innovative thermal energy storage built with concrete and gravel.

The collaboration is expected to deploy the innovations developed by AIRLIGHT ENERGY in the field of concentrated solar power (CSP) on a commercial scale. Saipem is a major global turnkey contractor listed on Milan Stock Exchange with approx. EUR 13bn annual net sales and will promote the design and construction of the complex plants in selected target markets where it is currently operating. “As a complete one-stop service provider, Saipem brings in its specific EPC/EPCI knowhow and will lead the project management as a general contractor leveraging its global engineering and marketing skills” says Paolo Carrera, Renewable and Environment Commercial Vice President of Saipem.

“Our solution has a big competitive advantage because the main components are manufactured on site with widely available materials such as the concrete sustaining structures. Therefore at least 50% of the project value is generated locally boosting economies and employment in the same regions” says Andrea Pedretti Chief Technology Officer of AIRLIGHT ENERGY. The plants are conceived to minimize the environmental impact. The innovative design favors an intelligent use of land by allowing other combined industrial and agricultural activities. Moreover the system recovers rain and cleaning water therefore eliminating unnecessary losses.

AIRLIGHT ENERGY is a Swiss private company founded in 2007 and based in Biasca.