Natcore takes steps to form solar JV in Australia

Having signed a MoU in September 2013, Natcore Technology and Australian group Denzo have begun planning for Natcore Australia, a joint venture that would produce solar cells and solar panels in Australia, with Australia as the headquarters for this activity.

The joint venture would move initially with currently available technologies. Future technologies would be deployed as they become available. Natcore Australia would have exclusive access to Natcore’s intellectual property portfolio in Australia. Financing for the venture would come from government and private sources.

The parties have begun to explore land, facility and labour costs; domestic and export sales potential; and availability of government assistance at local, state and federal levels. Denzo has narrowed the future site for the facility to one of two locations: the city of Orange, NSW, which is about 250 km west of Sydney; and Wellcamp West Brisbane Airport in Toowoomba, Queensland, which is 127 km west of Brisbane. Wellcamp West Brisbane Airport is the first privately built major public airport in Australia. The company that is building the airport is also building a large business park.

Natcore has submitted factory layouts for a 30 - 100 MW/year solar cell production facility and is preparing equipment recommendations on a ‘best of breed’ basis, ie, they are putting forward items that would be selected from manufacturers in Germany, China and elsewhere around the world. Each piece of equipment would be the best in its category according to criteria agreed upon with Denzo (eg, most efficient, cleanest operating, lowest cost). Natcore would not receive a commission or mark-up on the equipment.

“We would have no biases or no conflicts of interest in making appropriate decisions,” says Natcore President and CEO Chuck Provini.

“We sought out Natcore after careful due diligence on solar technologies throughout the world,” says Ken Mathews, Managing Director of Denzo.

“Natcore Australia will be a licensee of Natcore Technology. They'll pay royalties for our technology, and they’ll buy our chemicals.”