So far the company was focused on wind energy

For Jean-Louis Borloo, Minister of ecology, "it is the evidence that green growth, it is a reality." EDF Energies Nouvelles, the 50 subsidiary of the public electrician, yesterday announced a project of construction of factory in France of solar panels with the American First Solar. With 300 jobs in the key, the investment should rise to EUR 90 million, divided equally between the two partners. The plant must atteindre full capacity in the second half of 2011, with an annual output of 100 megawatts. Photovoltaic technology evolves very quickly, its capacity should naturally grow with time.

"This agreement represents a key step in the strategy of our group, which has the ambition to be a world leader in solaire energy," said Paris Mouratoglou, Chairman of the Board of administration and shareholder to 25 of EDF EN. So far the company was focused on wind energy. At end of 2008, it had in service or 2,000 MW production capacity in this trade and only 21 MW in solar. But it has big ambitions and wants to install 500 MW of photovoltaic capacity by 2012, including a fifth this year. Its recent capital increase must secure funding.

For Paris Mouratoglou, "s écuriser a competitive supply is essential to take part in the development of a large French market solar".This is what it is by partnering with First Solar, since the production of the future plant will be dedicated to EDF EN on a duration of at least ten years.

A "stroke of political genius".

The French company already has a contract to supply in the long term with this provider, the world leader in photovoltaïque technology to thin-layer. "First Solar has a unique," said Didier Laurens, analyst at Société Générale. EDF EN made the right technology choice. "American society today provides panels at a cost of production of 0.93 dollar per watt, against more than $ 2 for concurrent technology which uses the crystalline silicon. But in this industry, things are changing at the great V. speed According to its CEO Mike Ahearn, who was originally from First Solar in 1999 with the Walton family as shareholder (Wal-Mart), the cost of production of thin-film panels was still $ 3 ten years ago. "The 2014 horizon, our goal is to reduce the cost of production between 0.52 and 0.60 dollar watt", said Mike Ahearn.

First Solar currently has three factories, in the United States, Germany and Malaysia. The location of the French plant remains to be set. Jean-Louis Borloo supports the city of Saint-Auban in Alpes, where the construction of a plant for solar panels was provided by Silpro. A delegation of lower-Alpine elected also was received yesterday in the Elysee Palace. But the company has been judicial redressement last April. The project was symbolic for the State. Boosting the sector itself, especially after this failure, EDF Energies Nouvelles carries out a "political genius hit", find an expert. The company will have a major leverage when it will be to renegotiate the purchase of solar electricity tariffs, which expire in 2011.