Ergon Solair LLP, an American-Taiwanese PV partnership, is one step closer to realizing a $1.5 billion 1 GW photovoltaic power plant in Georgia.
Ergon Solair Chairman and CEO Lorenzo L. Colacicchi met with Georgian Minister of Energy Kakha Kaladze to present the planned project. The plant, which would employ local photovoltaic equipment assembly facilities, would be interconnected to Europe though the Black Sea by way of HVDC underwater transmission. The HVDC transmission would be implemented with the technical cooperation of Turkeys Derinsu Offshore Survey and Engineering Company at an additional cost of $1.5 billion.
Ergon Solairs presentation included information about investors that have shown interest in supporting the project, including SkyPower Global, a major international solar developer, and Primesolar Srl, an Italian contractor.
Georgias Ministry of Energy confirmed during the meeting that one of its priorities was the utilization of the countrys solar resources and promotion of investments, according to Ergon Solair.
The project is expected to be finalized following further negotiations between the Taipei-based Ergon Solair and the Georgian Ministry of Energy.
"We are very grateful for the support we have received from the Deputy Minister of Energy Ilia Eloshvili during the preliminary studies of our project and for the support to our project expressed by the Minister of Energy Kakha Kalazde during our meeting of May 22," Colacicchi said.
"We look forward to finalizing this development and implementing this project in Georgia, as it will have very positive impact on regional sustainability, stimulate growth of the Eurasian green economy sector and create numerous job opportunities."
Colacicchi added that the HVDC transmission system would connect Georgia to Europe, "thus integrating the country into the European super grid and bringing benefit not only by way of the solar power plant, but also by facilitating the exchange with Europe of hydro and wind energy, creating a further stimulus for the growth of the renewable energy sector in the Caucasus."
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