OxfordPV: CEO to participate in UK solar trade mission to Saudi Arabia
Kevin Arthur, Co-Founder and CEO of Oxford Photovoltaics (Oxford PV), is to join Greg Barker, Minister of State for the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) in a forthcoming solar trade mission to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from the 11th to 12th of November 2013.
A huge growth market for solar power, Saudi Arabia aims to power its energy-intensive economy largely through renewable sources by the middle of this century, freeing up vast quantities of oil for export.
The UK trade mission will include a programme put together by the Department for Energy & Climate Change, UK Trade and Investment and the British Embassy to explore unparalleled opportunities for UK firms to access the Saudi market, estimated to reach some $100 billion.
Following a separate invitation from the DECC, Kevin Arthur has also recently joined the UK PV Strategy Group Innovation Task Force, to provide first-hand knowledge and experience of solar technology and assist in identifying new innovations that will stimulate deployment.
Oxford PV has exclusively licensed and is developing a photovoltaic technology that has the potential to deliver low cost, efficient solar cells that can be readily incorporated into glass building facades.
Kevin Arthur said:
“For Oxford PV, this UK trade mission will give us the chance to make high level contacts as we explore opportunities for future collaboration in adopting our technology into large scale buildings in Saudi Arabia. It will also allow us to assess what appetite exists for Saudi investors to join in with future funding rounds in our company.”
Rt Hon Greg Barker, Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change, said:
“This is a very exciting mission. The UK solar sector is a honeypot of innovation and potential, and with Saudi Arabia set to spend a staggering 100 billion dollars on solar, UK firms are natural partners for them, with a huge amount to offer, especially at the added value end of the market.”
