The ACME Group, an Indian conglomerate specializing in energy, environmental and telecommunications infrastructure, has agreed to make a $30 million equity investment in the U.S.'s eSolar, a producer of solar thermal power plants which is headed by Silicon Valley serial entrepreneur Bill Gross. The deal includes an exclusive licensing agreement with the ACME Group to build up to 1,000 MW of solar thermal power plants over the next 10 years.

eSolar has named ACME as a master licensee of its  technology and is granting the company the exclusive right to represent eSolar in India. Under the agreement ACME can  develop its own utility-scale solar thermal projects and work with other companies that want to build solar thermal power plants in India using eSolar technology. The agreement combines both companies' resources to enable complete project capabilities, ranging from technology development and component manufacturing to power plant construction and operation.

 Construction will start later this year on the first 100 MW of eSolar power plants, according to the company. ACME is targeting 1,000 MW of solar power within India over the next 10 years. This deal builds on eSolar's recently announced partnership with and $10 million equity investment from NRG Energy, Inc. to construct 500 MW in the United States.