European companies have largely been absent in the Indian solar energy scene except for Siemens,Areva which are moving aggressively in the whole green energy sector.Note US and Chinese companies have already established solid beacheads in the country.India’s solar energy sector is poised for exponential growth in the coming decade further boosted by JNNSM.European  home markets are maturing for European companies and India is the rising star,so it is essential that the sales teams of the Europeans get in early.Schott Solar is one of the biggest manufacturer of solar panels in Germany.Though not big on the world stage,Schott Solar is present in large parts of the Solar PV and  Solar Thermal Supply Chain.It recently established a JV with Chinese company Hareon and plans to build 700 MW of solar panel capacity in emerging markets around the world.It has won a contract to supply 20 MW of thin film modules to Indian Solar Company Premier Solar with 10 MW of supply in 2010 and 10 MW in 2011.Note Premier Solar is a small company and seems they are building the 20 MW for a state government and not under the JNNSM scheme.Note,Schott is not a big name in solar either and its thin film modules are certainly not famous either so makes a good combination.Solar Energy in India finally sees entry of European companies Abengoa and Schott

Schott Solar signs 20 MW Indian PV contract

The 20 MW contract between Schott Solar and Premier Solar India is a part of a long-term partnership between the two companies. Schott will supply 200,000 thin-film solar PV modules, making it the company’s largest order in Asia to date.Dr Martin Heming, CEO of Schott Solar, says: “This project gives us the opportunity to contribute to climate protection in India. At the same time, Premier Solar’s order will help us to continue expanding our visibility on the Indian market.”10 MW of the order will be supplied in 2011 and the second half is due in 2012. The solar PV modules will be installed in 2011 by Premier Solar’s new EPC division, Premier Solar Power Tech, in a grid-connected ground mount system.

On the other hand Abengoa is one of the most well known suppliers of Solar Thermal Equipment in the world and is a proven developer of large scale Solar Plants in Spain and USA.Abengoa has signed a JV with India’s largest capital equipment company BHEL to manufacture components for Solar Thermal Plants.Note Solar Thermal in India has got solid government backing on par with Solar PV.A number of Solar Thermal Plants are being built in India and this JV might target supplying equipment to these companies.

BHEL inks pact with Abengoa for solar power projects

State-run power equipment-maker BHEL today said it has signed an agreement with Spain’s Abengoa to set up solar power projects in India. “BHEL and Abengoa of Spain have joined hands to develop state-of-the-art solar power projects in India,” a company statement said. However, the statement did not divulge the financial details of the agreement.
The agreement was signed in Seville, Spain, by BHEL Chairman and Managing Director B P Rao and Abengoa Solar Chairman and CEO Santiago Seage.
The agreement will enable both the organisations to leverage their capabilities in offering EPC solutions for solar power projects in India, as well as give them the opportunity to explore cooperation on energy projects in other parts of the world, the statement said.