RIOGLASS SOLAR

RIOGLASS SOLAR

A global market leader in concentrated solar power (CSP) technologies

R I O G L A S S

S O L A R

Heat The

is On

Rioglass Solar is capitalising on the budding rise of solar thermal applications to meet the ever-diversifying range of requirements across its global customer base Writer: Matthew Staff | Project Manager: Thomas Arnold

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EME ne decade may not seem like a long time when it comes to global industry development, but in a solar energy market that sees significant evolution year-on-year, Rioglass Solar’s 10-year journey places it at the top of the sector.

Owned by Rioglass Laminar and Abengoa Solar, the Company has not just thrived virtue of its unrivalled products and market understanding but also via this intra-collaboration and subsequent global scale; enjoying presence points on six continents across Spain, USA, China, Israel, South Africa and Chile.

CSO, Jeroen Van Schijndel introduces: “Rioglass Solar formed via the separation of the parent Company’s solar mirror and automotive glass divisions in 2007.

The first mirrors were produced at Rioglass Solar I at our 600,000 mirrors per annum Spanish facility a year later before the Rioglass Solar II plant increased our capacity in Spain a year later.

“2010 saw us awarded the largest ever global CSP (concentrated solar power) project, before the commissioning of a new plant in the USA doubled Group sales in 2011.”

South Africa in 2013, Chile in 2014 and China in 2016 have since compounded the Company’s rapid and concerted expansion ambitions, enveloping a series of product diversifications and strategic acquisitions to help complement Rioglass’ rise.

Now, catering for the provision of CPV mirrors, and all four major technologies of solar thermal solutions, the portfolio has been joined by business units across aforementioned CSP capabilities, solar thermal technologies for industrial application, parabolic troughs, central tower and linear Fresnel heliostat mirrors, and parabolic dishes.

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VALSPAR The Valspar Advantage As the leading global brand of solar mirror coatings, Valspar has a proven record of success, with almost 15 years of mirrors with Valspar solar technologies on exposure in CSP solar fields in five continents. But innovation can’t stop. We know that new coatings solutions will be required to meet future environmental regulations, and are developing and testing waterborne technologies to meet these needs. High quality products and superior technical support that maximize MW output and minimise risk will continue to be the Valspar advantage long into the future.

The Company thrives on the unrivaled innovation of its products

“Across the board, Rioglass Solar has the best performing products that are bankable and trusted,” van Schijndel emphasises. “Almost all past competitors have eventually stepped out of this business as they could not compete. Most competitors we face now are new and still need to prove they have reliable products and to gain bankability.

“Rioglass Solar has a large group of patents enabling it to defend its in-house-developed technologies from copies, and we are locally present. Our wide network of plants enables us to offer clients the cheapest solution, reliable deliveries and local content if needed.

“But most unique and the motor behind it all is our staff and our partners; those who created all of this.”

Differentiating qualities

While evidently impressive as standalone statistics, it is pivotal to fully understand the market

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www.valsparmirror.com

Best product innovation award Rioglass Solar has been awarded twice for the award of best product innovation and also the industry award; the latter being the most important as it is chosen by industry peers. The entity that organised these awards is the London-based, CSP Today, nowadays New Energy Update

and environment in which Rioglass Solar operates in order to entirely comprehend the complexities involved and the resultant triumphs of the business.

“The solar thermal market is divided into two main markets: electricity generation (large plants competing with all other generating technologies but with a clear advantage over other renewables like PV or wind through being dispatchable,); and the industrial applications which is still a market in its early stage,” van Schijndel explains.

“Solar Thermal technology depends on direct sunlight, which implies that suitable regions are limited. In one way the current markets are still under development (e.g. Middle East and China) while on the other side there are still new potential markets such as Chile and Australia where the conditions need to be created to make this new technology possible.”

Due to the possibility of integrated storage solutions, the growth estimates

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OVER 1500MW OF INSTALLED CONCENTRATED SOLAR POWER CAPACITY

Solar Mirror Coatings & Solutions valsparmirror.com

by expanding into new markets, by localising our production and by always continuing to improve our products and technologies.”

New and improved

Rioglass Solar has traditionally enjoyed relationships with a select few professional business partners over the years; ensuring a seamless adherence to changing industry trends, and subsequently creating more value through considered, locally-driven investments.

The growth estimates for this market are something that Rioglass will capitalise on The latest significant investment to this end has seen the Company unveil for this market are tremendous, and outside the industry know this its new production plant in Hohhot, Rioglass fully intends on capitalising. To technology and thoroughly understand Inner Mongolia, China. do so though, there once again needs to its differentiating qualities, such as “This shows our commitment to be a clear understanding of the nuances 24-seven supply, and providing grid serving existing and new customers between this new opportunity and more stability and ancillary services. in this rapidly developing market traditional renewables such as wind and “However, it is our R&D and where there is a programme for 20 PV, as well as a profound understanding entrepreneurial spirit [to adapt new projects ranging from 50 MW to of how the right mix can provide the to these trends] that has brought 100 MW; soon to be followed by more best solution in each of the markets.

Rioglass Solar to where it is today. We projects based on China´s five-year plan Van Schijndel continues: “Few have outlived a lot of our competitors for solar thermal,” van Schijndel details.

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“Besides that, Rioglass continuously invests in new and improved production equipment for example for very complex PV and solar dish mirrors as we did for an American customer for their projects in China where we manufactured mirrors for around 200 MW in generating CPV power.

“We were also the first to manufacture 80 and 90mm receivers for commercial plants for new types of troughs, called large aperture troughs.”

And behind each and every piece of research, and every innovative implementation, the Company turns to its loyal and skilled workforce who van Schijndel attributes as the real value creators within the business.

“When moving into new markets we bring highly-trained professionals with us to build the new plant and start production, but especially to train and qualify the newly hired staff,” he notes. “It is our goal to create at each location a core staff that is highly skilled but also committed to the Company; but with roots there. This way we create a stable, highly-reliable core of people that stay with the Company and help to create new value locally; but also help us to hire and train staff based on the projects being developed locally or in nearby markets.

“In a project-based industry you have to be flexible while relying on a group of people that consistently carry the Company’s DNA.” Rioglass Solar’s resultant, key critical components directly affect the output of plants, thus making efficiency and durable products equally critical. As a result, a similarly prudent focus is applied to the formulation of the Company’s supply chain, once again placing localisation at the heart of the strategy, before ensuring there is an attitude and philosophy match in order to cement complete reliability and mutual satisfaction.

“Our global partners and transportation companies play a key role in the whole value chain to ensure

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“...Rioglass continuously invests in new and improved production equipment...”

“When moving into new markets we bring highly-trained professionals with us to build the new plant and start production...”

“In a project-based industry you have to be flexible while relying on a group of people that consistently carry the Company’s DNA.”

You have to be aware of your own market your customers and your customers´ customers - but also of other industries that might impact your own market

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“You have to be aware of your own market - your customers and your customers´ customers - but also of other industries that might impact your own market,” van Schijndel says. “The energy Jeroen Van Schijndel, CSO market for example is rapidly changing in some frontrunner countries and these trends cannot be stopped. a safe on-timely delivery of glass “Renewables will undoubtedly products and with good local roots become the key energy source in to ensure we engage well with our the future, as it allows for clean, customers,” van Schijndel affirms. independent and cheap generation.”

Reliability is also key, and that is Leading position where solar thermal comes in, in When all previous facets have been facilitating the possibility of integrated secured and optimised, it places solutions and round-the-clock Rioglass Solar in the perfect position to generation; while also complementing tackle the continuously evolving trends intermittent renewables such as and demands of the solar energy wind and PV. Admittedly expensive as an initial outlay, the respective sector. While operational excellence begins in the plants, trends begin in economies of scale, technological the market, and it is crucial that these efficiencies and project management two worlds are merged seamlessly to undertones makes the overall concept ensure long-term success. more sustainable; and it is now down

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to companies like Rioglass Solar to harness the potential of solar thermal as effectively as possible.

“Solar thermal is recognised for its unique potential to provide stability to the electricity grid and is a serious competitor considered by the investment world and governments worldwide,” van Schijndel concludes poignantly. “Industry has seen its first successful commercial applications and companies are now looking at this technology as one of the sources of heat to secure their future.

“For Rioglass Solar, its investments and R&D activities will maintain its leading position for both solar thermal and optical components in CPV markets, having become a trusted partner for many industrial groups for their power projects and solar heat needs.

“And we expect to still be a leader in this field of expertise long into the future.”

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