Abengoa begins comercial operation of Concentrating Solar Power Solnova 1

Abengoa Solar has initiated commercial operation of Solnova 1, the new parabolic trough technology plant located at the Solúcar Platform, following the successful completion of the operation and production testing conducted over the course of three days. During this phase plant performance matched theoretical electrical power generation design, thereby validating the tremendous potential of parabolic trough technology.

The Solnova 1 plant incorporates parabolic trough technology developed by Abengoa Solar and has integrated significant design enhancements. Worthy of special mention is the Abengoa Solar-developed ASTRØ parabolic trough collector which ensures far superior precision thanks to its design and exclusive process of construction and alignment.

The accumulative experience gained by Abengoa Solar through its trough pilot plant built in 2007, the use of a motor-driven start-up station, and the expertise of highly specialized technical personnel dedicated to optical alignment, collector manufacturing and process optimisation proved to be key factors in the successful start-up of Solnova 1, a plant built by Abener.

Santiago Seage, CEO of Abengoa Solar, emphasized that reaching theoretical design capacity during production testing constitutes a significant milestone. “Our technological progress and accumulative expertise have enabled us to reach our goals much sooner than we had anticipated. We will use this experience in the two 280 MW CSP (Concentrating Solar Power) plants planned for the United States in Arizona and California”. he added.

With its 50 megawatts of power, the new Solnova 1 solar station will generate enough clean energy to meet the electricity needs of 25,700 homes, while preventing the emission of approximately 31,400 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere each year.

Solnova 1 is made up of around 980 000 square feet (300,000 square meters) of mirrors that cover an area totalling approximately 280 acres (115 hectares). The plant employs technology which concentrates solar radiation onto a heat-absorbing pipe inside of which flows a liquid that reaches high temperatures. This fluid transfers its energy to the water vapor that reaches a turbo-generator, where it expands to produce electricity.

Abengoa Solar focuses its activity on the development and application of technology for generating electrical power with the sun.

Abengoa is a technology company that applies innovative solutions for sustainability in the infrastructure, environmental, and energy sectors. Abengoa is listed on the Spanish Stock Exchange and is present in more than seventy countries, where the company operates through its five Business Units: Solar, Bioenergy, Environmental Services, Information Technologies, and Industrial Engineering and Construction.

www.abengoa.com