Japan firms 'plan tie-ups' for solar power bids

About 20 Japanese firms plan to form alliances to win orders for solar power generators and plants against Chinese and other rivals in the global market, a report said Sunday. They will set up consortiums of three to nine companies each to bid for projects in five areas Indonesia, the Middle East and North Africa, Latin America, Mongolia and Thailand the Nikkei business daily said. The global market for solar power is expanding at a double-digit pace but Japanese companies are falling behind rivals in China and elsewhere, the daily said. The Japanese government plans to help these teams in negotiations with foreign governments and by providing financial assistance, it added. Panasonic Corp., JGC Corp., Mitsui & Co. and three other firms will tie up on a bid for solar power project in Indonesia. Yokogawa Electric Corp. plans to build a power plant in the Middle East and North Africa using solar cells made by Sharp Corp., Kaneka Corp. and JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corp, Nikkei said. The five teams will begin operating this year, aiming to win at least one order each by autumn 2013, the daily said.