SCHOTT Solar CSP, Inc. announced the appointment of Richard Gruber to the position of executive vice president, sales and business development. In his new role, Gruber is responsible for leading sales and business development for SCHOTT Solar CSP, Inc in the United States, an increasingly important global market for concentrated solar power (CSP).

“Richard has a strong utility background and brings a deep understanding of the renewable energy industry to SCHOTT Solar CSP,” said Dr. Gerald Fine, president and CEO of SCHOTT Solar CSP, Inc. “He is a great asset to the company and will ensure SCHOTT continues growing as a global CSP market leader.”

Gruber joins SCHOTT Solar CSP after working as vice president of project development at First Solar, where he oversaw the successful development and financing of the largest photovoltaic power plant in the U.S. Prior to that, Gruber worked more than 20 years focused on development of conventional generation and transmission infrastructure across the US.

“As market and technology leader, SCHOTT Solar CSP offers the most efficient receiver for parabolic trough power plants,” said Gruber. “Having worked within both the regulated and competitive power industries, I appreciate the demands CSP project developers face in offering a proven and attractive solution to the market, as well as the expectation of utilities, responsible for delivering an environmentally responsible, reliable and reasonably priced energy mix to consumers.

“SCHOTT’s proven ability to increase system efficiencies, along with similar efforts by our partners and customers, are resulting in an ever more competitive CSP offering to US utilities and their consumers,” he added. “With the added benefits of an attractive delivery profile, the option of integrated thermal storage and interoperability with existing generation assets, CSP plants are poised to play a larger and valued role as part of a clean, well diversified generation portfolio.”