Technology

The Spanish company Ingenostrum has launched a project to build six photovoltaic plants in the Chilean region of Antofagasta. The initiative involves the commissioning of 690 MW of photovoltaic capacity with a planned investment of $1,800 million, approximately €1,400 million.

Solaria Energía y Medio Ambiente has begun construction of its first project in Brazil, comprising a 3-MW solar plant - the largest grid-connected photovoltaic system in the country, says the company.

Isofotón has signed an agreement with the Korean company Posco Engineering Plant to develop a series of photovoltaic projects. This partnership continues the Malaga-based company's international partnership strategy. Korea is the latest in a series of agreements signed with a Chinese oil company and Mercedes.

Fotoplat is the acronym of the Spanish Photovoltaic Technology Platform, the steering committee of which met on 20 March at the offices of the Secretary of State for Research, Development and Innovation of the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Mineco). The aim of the platform is to foster the development of photovoltaic technologies.

Soland Centre is the name of the Innovation and Advanced Services Centre of the Business Innovation Park of which Abengoa will be a key member. Work has already started on the building housing the complex in the province of Seville, which is expected to be completed mid-year.

The Theoretical Chemistry Research Group at the University of Seville is embarking on a research project focusing on "second-generation solar panels through the use of quantum dots and sulphide derivatives such as pyrite". The team of scientists from Seville believes this type of system can boost the performance of existing solar panels, as they are able to absorb more sunlight.

The Malaga-based company has announced an agreement with China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) - China's third largest oil company - to establish a company and jointly commission projects focusing on the development of solar photovoltaic technology.

The Valencia-iGEM team, comprising scientists and students from several universities in Valencia, have developed a biological system to disinfect contaminated water. The system was developed within the field of synthetic biology and has biological parts that replace the electronic ones. The configuration needs 60 to 80 W of electrical power to operate, which are obtained from solar photovoltaic modules donated by the company Eurener.

“Rail chargers” have been born. Antonio González Marín, the President of Spain’s Railway Infrastructures Administrator (ADIF), and Ángel Luis Serrano Serrano, President of Isofotón and Vice President of Affirma, have signed a non-exclusive marketing agreement for the “rail charger” system (known in Spanish as “Ferrolinera”) for a period of three years, setting forth the formulae for cooperating to roll out this system in Spain and abroad.

T-Solar Group has signed three loans agreements totalling $145 million dollars with which it closes the financing of the two solar photovoltaic plants (44 MW) the company is building in Arequipa, southern Peru.