Eaton to Provide Solutions for Arizona?s Largest Concentrating Solar Thermal Power Plant

Located 70 miles southwest of Phoenix, the solar thermal plant will use concentrated solar power (CSP) technology coupled with the ability to store energy during non-sunlight hours to better meet the peak demand of Arizona residents. Because Solana, which is Spanish for “sunny place,” will not emit greenhouse gases, it will prevent 475,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, as compared to a natural gas plant, while supplying utility provider Arizona Public Service (APS) with more solar electricity per customer than any other utility in the United States.

“Solana is a unique project that will help position Arizona as a leader in alternative energy and overall reduction of carbon dioxide emissions,” said Kevin McLean, senior vice president, Global Marketing, Electrical Sector, Eaton Corporation. “By combining the reliability and efficiency of Eaton’s electrical distribution system with Solana’s highly-innovative technology and energy storage capabilities, the project can serve as a model for other utility providers.”

Under the contract, Eaton’s Electrical Sector will supply an Abengoa subsidiary with electrical power distribution assemblies for the project as well as engineering and consulting services. Eaton is a leader in electrical power distribution and delivers reliable, efficient and safe power distribution products for industrial and commercial applications worldwide.

Solana is expected to begin operation in 2013, and unlike a photovoltaic solar plant, which uses sunlight to produce electricity, the CSP solar trough technology utilizes trackers with high precision parabolic mirrors that follow the sun’s path and concentrate its energy, heating a fluid to over 700 degrees Fahrenheit and using that heat to turn steam turbines. The solar plant will also include a thermal energy storage system that allows electricity to be produced as required, after the sun has set. APS will purchase all of the generated electricity from the plant’s owner, Abengoa Solar, for its customers.

Abengoa is an international company that applies innovative technology solutions for sustainability in the energy and environment sectors, generating energy from the sun, producing biofuels, desalinating sea water and recycling industrial waste.

Eaton’s electrical business is a global leader in power distribution, power quality, control and automation, power monitoring and energy management products and services. Eaton is positioned, through its Cutler-Hammer®, Moeller®, Powerware®, Holec®, MEM®, and Santak® global electrical product series, to answer today’s most critical electrical power management challenges.

Eaton Corporation is a diversified power management company with 2010 sales of $13.7 billion. Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2011, Eaton is a global technology leader in electrical components and systems for power quality, distribution and control; hydraulics components, systems and services for industrial and mobile equipment; aerospace fuel, hydraulics and pneumatic systems for commercial and military use; and truck and automotive drivetrain and powertrain systems for performance, fuel economy and safety. Eaton has approximately 73,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 150 countries.

www.eaton.com