The package will feature Cat-branded solar panels manufactured by First Solar and will include a balance of system components.

Caterpillar expects to first market the microgrid solution in the Asia Pacific, Africa and Latin American regions.

The integrated PV solution will be available to customers in those regions in the second half of 2015.

Caterpillar’s dealer network will exclusively sell and support the integrated solution featuring the Cat-branded solar panels along with its offerings of generator sets and energy storage.

Microgrids provide value to prime power diesel and gas customers by integrating renewable energy, such as solar power, with generator sets.

Caterpillar vice-president with responsibility for the Electric Power Division Steve Niehuas said by working with First Solar, Cat was optimising the efficiency and integration of solar power with its offerings.

First Solar vice-president for global marketing Marc van Gerven said the strategic alliance with Caterpillar provided more evidence of a global energy transition, “where solar energy’s reliability and cost competitiveness with traditional fuels allows it to complement conventional generation.