Technology

The project, which was presented by Torresol Energy's President, Enrique Sendagorda, will require an investment of €1 billion and will create 3,200 jobs during construction and 1,200 during operation. It is intended that some of the plant components will also be manufactured in Extremadura.

The company plans to start work in 2013 and complete the complex six years later. However, everything is dependent upon obtaining environmental permits from the Extremadura Regional Government, as well as Spain's Ministry of Industry admitting the plants in the relevant registers.

Work is currently underway to identify suitable land on which to site the 4,650 heliostats that each plant will boast in a circular area of 1,825 metres in diameter, as well as the 190-metre high tower onto which sunlight will be reflected by the mirrors. It is envisaged that the system will include molten salt heat storage to ensure the facilities can continue to operate even when there is no sunlight.

Six solar thermal electric plants with a total capacity of 300 MW are already generating power in Extremadura, while another 18 plants with a capacity of 900 MW are in the pipeline.

For additional information:

www.torresolenergy.com