Marine Current Turbines

In connection with the previously announced company program 2014, Siemens will modify its business strategy and organizational setup with respect to renewable energy. The company plans to divest its solar business activities and is currently holding talks with potential buyers on this subject.

Siemens announced at the SolarPACES conference in Marrakech the release of a new solar receiver, the UVAC 6G (Universal Vacuum Air Collector), which further increases thermal heat production for solar power plants. The improved heat generation of the UVAC 6G enables the construction and operation of more efficient power plants that allows solar field operators to reduce capital and operating expenditures (CAPEX and OPEX) by up to 2.5 percent.

Siemens Energy has been awarded an order to supply UVAC 2010 (Universal Vacuum Air Collector) solar receivers for the Megha parabolic trough power plant to be built in Andhra Pradesh, near Hyderabad, India. Megha is now the second project in India to be equipped with solar receivers from Siemens. Purchaser is Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd. Siemens will supply approximately 17,000 solar receivers, which will generate all of the heat for the 50 megawatt (MW) facility. Commissioning for the solar plant is scheduled for spring 2013.

Siemens Energy has been awarded an order to supply UVAC 2010 (Universal Vacuum Air Collector) solar receivers for a parabolic trough power plant to be built in Rajasthan, India. Purchaser is Shriram EPC Limited under contract to project developer Abhijeet (Corporate Ispat Alloys Ltd).

Siemens has acquired the majority stake in Marine Current Turbines Ltd., the UK company based in Bristol, which develops and builds tidal power systems. "The acquisition of Marine Current Turbines is an important step forward for the Solar & Hydro Division," said Ted Scheidegger, CEO of the Solar & Hydro Division of Siemens Energy.

Effective February 1, 2012, Shmuel Fledel (58) will become CEO of the Solar Thermal Energy Business Unit in the Solar & Hydro Division of Siemens Energy. Fledel is an aeronautical engineer and has vast experience in production process improvement. He has profound knowledge of engineering, finance and marketing, which he gained in various high-level management positions during his career.

The solar company Semprius, in which Siemens has invested as a strategic partner in June 2011, achieved a world record for photovoltaic module efficiency of 33.9 percent. This result was externally certified after measurement under standard test conditions at the Instituto de Energía Solar (IES) at the University of Madrid (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid).

Effective November 10, 2011, Theodor (Ted) Scheidegger (53) will become CEO of the Solar & Hydro Division of Siemens Energy. Scheidegger previously held executive positions in various companies, most recently as CEO of Sovello AG, one of the leading integrated suppliers of solar wafers, and solar cells and modules. "We’re pleased to have secured a recognized leader with international experience in the solar industry as CEO of our new Solar & Hydro Division," said Michael Suess, member of the Managing Board of AG and CEO of the Energy Sector.

Siemens is increasing its stake in Britain's Marine Current Turbines Ltd. to 45 percent. "With this increase in its stake, Siemens is strengthening its activities in ocean power generation. We will actively shape the commercialization process of innovative marine current power plants," said Michael Axmann, CFO of the newly founded Solar & Hydro Division within Siemens' Energy Sector. Financial details of the deal are not disclosed.

In mid-October, Siemens Energy put the Les Mées solar farm in the department of Alpes-de- Haute-Provence in the south of France on line. For this project Siemens installed a total of six turnkey photovoltaic (PV) power plants. Customer is the project developer Eco Delta Développement (EDD), whose subsidiary Delta Solar developed the photovoltaic (PV) farm in the district of Les Mées.

Siemens Energy has received an order for a solar field in Catalonia, Spain, from the Spanish EPC UTE Termosolar Borges (Abantia/Comsa Emte). Siemens will design, supply, integrate and construct the entire solar field, including the mirrors and solar receivers.

Siemens Energy has received another order for the supply of a solar field for a concentrated solar power (CSP) plant in Spain. The Arenales parabolic trough power plant is located near Morón de la Frontera in Andalucía in Southern Spain. Customer and general contractor of the CSP plant is Ecolaire España, a company of the OHL Industrial (OHL Group).

Siemens Energy has received orders for the turnkey construction of 15 photovoltaic plants with a combined capacity of 25 megawatts peak (MWp). In Italy, six solar power plants will be erected in the Marche, Lazio, Umbria and Puglia regions for multiple customers. After commissioning in the summer of 2011, the combined rating of 16.7 MWp will provide approximately 6700 households in Italy with ecofriendly power.

Siemens Energy has received an order for a solar field in Extremadura, Spain, from the Spanish EPC UTE Termosolar Olivenza (Acciona Infraestructuras, Acciona Ingeniería and Seridom) who acted as turnkey contractor for the CSP Plant Termosolar Olivenza 1, owned by Ibereólica Solar Olivenza, S.L. The scope of supply encompasses the turnkey solar field, including the solar receivers.

Siemens has acquired a minority stake of about 16 percent in the U.S. pioneering solar company Semprius. Headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, Semprius has developed high concentrating photovoltaic (HCPV) modules.

Siemens Energy has received a follow-up order for the turnkey construction of eight photovoltaic plants in Italy. The solar power plants will be erected in the Marche and Abruzzo regions, between the Adriatic Sea and the Apennine Mountains.

Siemens Energy has secured another order for an offshore wind power plant in Germany. For the customer DONG Energy the company will supply up to 89 wind turbines for the Borkum Riffgrund 1 project in the North Sea off the German coast. With a total capacity of 320 megawatts (MW) the wind power plant will supply approximately 330,000 German households with clean electricity.

As part of the High-Performance Solar Thermal Power research project sponsored by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Siemens together with German partner companies is to build a power plant test facility operating with molten salt as heat transfer medium. The partner companies include the German Aerospace Center (DLR), K+S AG, Senior Berghöfer GmbH and Steinmüller Engineering GmbH.

Siemens Energy has signed a framework agreement with Suntech Power the world’s largest manufacturer of photovoltaic (PV) modules. The photovoltaic modules to be supplied under this umbrella agreement are for several projects in Europe.

On November 29, on the occasion of a trip to Israel, German President Christian Wulff visited the Siemens solar thermal production plant in Bet Shemesh, Israel, approximately 20 kilometers west of Jerusalem. The Siemens plant produces high-efficiency solar receivers, which are key components of solar thermal power plants. The German head of state was provided with information on site on the individual steps involved in the production of these high-tech components and on prospects for the utilization of CO2-free solar energy.