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.

The primary objectives of the two research and development consortiums forming part of the Feder-Innterconecta programme the company has been selected to lead by the Centre of Industrial Technological Development (CDTI) are to develop new solar technologies that are more efficient and cost effective. 

Huelva, Badajoz, Burgos, Cáceres, Leon and Ciudad Real are the provinces selected by Ence as the locations of six of the nine plants included in the company's 2011-2015 plan. The remaining three will be located in Galicia, although their exact locations have still not been decided.

The machine developed by the Spanish company Kliux Energies has been installed as part of the AVER project, funded by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, which the University of Saragossa explains aims "to study integrating renewable energy sources into buildings to cover their electricity demand".

Gamesa and Toyota have signed a collaboration agreement to promote the use of electric vehicles in urban environments in Spain. Specifically, Toyota Spain has lent Gamesa a plug-in hybrid vehicle for a six-month period so it can test and verify the car's technology, identify potential limiting factors and analyse its charging requirements.

The Spanish multinational Ibereólica has submitted for approval by the Government of Chile's Environmental Assessment Service (SEA) the Pedro de Valdivia solar thermal electric or concentrating solar power (CSP) plant project: a formidable 360-megawatt plant that will require an investment of $2,600 million. The project is currently at the "qualification" stage, says the SEA.

The Economic and Commercial Office of Spain in Greece has announced that the Rokas Group, a Greek subsidiary of the Spanish company Iberdrola, has submitted to the authorities in the northern Aegean an environmental impact study for the Aegean Link project, budgeted at €1,850 million.

Abengoa recently announced that it will receive the financial support of Banco Santander to develop the largest solar thermal electric plant in the world. The Solana proect is being developed in Arizona and will be the first US solar power plant to boast energy storage, reveals the Spanish multinational.

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.

Constructora d'Aro and Compact Habit have been awarded one of 19 GreenLight and GreenBuilding awards given by the European Commission each year for having managed to reduce energy consumption by over 70% in a building used for education. Projects from across Europe participated in the competition.