Technology

The commissioning of the 50-MW Florida plant in Alvarado (Badajoz) positions Spain as world leader in grid-connected solar thermal electric power. According to the sector’s trade association, Protermosolar, Spain’s solar thermal electric or concentrating solar power (CSP) capacity comprises eleven plants in operation (432 MW of installed power) and about twenty at a stage of "advanced construction".

The construction, operation and maintenance of the Ain Beni Mathar project has been assumed by Abener on behalf of the client ONE (Office National de l'Electricité). It is the world's largest ISCC (Integrated Solar Combined Cycle) solar thermal electric plant, and has an output of 470 MW.

SENER has received a US Department of Energy (DOE) grant to participate in the development of a new generation of thermal storage systems for high-performance solar thermal electric plants. The US government hopes that this aid will help to improve the availability of solar power and reduce costs.

Abengoa Solar has started commercial operations of Solnova 3, a parabolic trough solar thermal electric plant located at the Solúcar Complex in Seville. It is the second plant to go online in May after Solnova 1 was connected at the start of the month.

Acciona has been short listed by the Australian government to install a 200-MW solar thermal electric plant as part of the country’s Solar Flagships programme created to develop solar energy in Australia. Acciona’s bid is one of eight finalists in the first round of this programme –four involving solar thermal electric technology and four using photovoltaics– chosen from a total of 52 proposals submitted.

Renovalia Energy and Iberdrola Renovables have agreed to evaluate "Second-Generation Solar Thermal electric equipment at Iberdrola complex in Puertollano (Ciudad Real).  The uniqueness of this equipment is that it does not use water, which "shortens plant constrution tiem and improves efficiency ay up to 24%", claims Renovalia, which will be responsabile for installing the equipment.