Abengoa Solar awarded contract for developing a solar power tower with the DOE

Through its latest R&D program, the U.S. aims to step up commercialization of the most innovative solar technologies, putting its trust in Abengoa Solar as a preferred partner.

During the announcement of the awards, U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu emphasized that “developing low-cost, renewable energy generation is crucial to meeting our nation’s increasing demands for electricity.” He also pointed out that “by investing in the development of low-cost solar technologies we can create new jobs and pave the way towards a clean-energy future.”.

The Abengoa Solar project aims to develop a new solar power tower technology featuring a receiver and storage system to enable electricity production even when solar energy is not available. The system will be made up of a circular field of heliostats that will reflect solar radiation onto a central receiver where the heat will be concentrated. A portion of this heat will be used directly to generate steam, producing electricity inside the turbine, while the other part will be stored to be utilized for producing electricity whenever it is needed.

Santiago Seage, CEO of Abengoa Solar, expressed his satisfaction with this project award, underscoring that “thanks to the boost given by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to the development of new technologies, we are going to have the chance to develop a new generation of solar power towers, which will enable us to be more efficient by producing more energy with the same number of megawatts installed”.

Abengoa Solar’s R&D program is focused on enhancing solar energy efficiency and lowering costs through the use of new solar power technologies. Abengoa Solar employs nearly 100 research and development professionals.

Abengoa Solar focuses on developing and applying innovative solutions to generate power and energy from the sun. Abengoa Solar’s U.S. headquarters in Lakewood, CO, comprises 50,000 square feet of office and manufacturing space where more than 80 people are employed in engineering, research and development, manufacturing, project development, and support. In addition, Abengoa Solar has U.S. offices in Arizona and California (www.abengoasolar.com).

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