Ausra was initially formed in Mountain View, California in 2006. With offices in the U.S. and Australia, the company had designed, developed, manufactured, and installed Compact Linear Fresnal Reflector solar steam generators. It also constructed the first solar thermal power plant to add electricity into California's power grid in almost 20 years.
"Today is about making a strong company even stronger. With Areva, Ausra is joining forces with one of the world's global energy leaders," said Dr. Robert E. Fishman, Ausra's chairman and CEO. "Combining Areva's financial and commercial strengths, and its energy expertise, with Ausra's proven technology and experienced management team will help position AREVA for even greater success in the renewable and carbon-free energy industry."
Anil Srivastava, Areva's senior executive vice president of Business Group Renewable Energies added that the acquisition of Ausra was a "major step forward" in the French company's ambition to expand into renewable energy and become a world leader in concentrated solar power with a "reliable, cost-effective product."
Areva expects the market for concentrated solar power plants to grow at an annual rate of 20 percent over the next decade, reaching an installed capacity of 20 gigawatts by 2020.
