Renovalia Energy, a Spanish producer of electric power by means of renewable energy sources (wind energy, solar photovoltaic, solar thermoelectric and mini-hydraulic), has signed an agreement with Iberdrola Renovables to test second generation solar thermoelectric technology in Spain.
Renovalia will build some units of its thermoelectric technology in Iberdrola Renovables park in Puertollano (Ciudad Real) to test its efficiency. Afterwards and depending on the test results, Renovalia and Iberdrola Renovables could negotiate building more units of this technology around Spain.
This second generations solar thermoelectric technology consists of a parabolic reflective disk and a generator of external combustion. This system is different form first generation technologies as it doesn’t use water or burn gas, is noiseless and smaller. It doesn’t need large extensions to be built.
It is faster to build than other technologies (6 months, while others need 24 months) and has a high efficiency (up to 24% more). Parks are very autonomous and need a low maintenance.
Solar thermoelectric parks potencial
The interest of the largest electric company in Spain for Renovalia¡s technology shows the potential of second generation solar thermoelectric parks. According to a report of the European Solar Thermal Electricity Association (ESTELA) and Greenpeace in collaboration with Solar PACES program of the International Energy Association (IEA), solar thermoelectric energy will generate 20,800 million euros in revenues and more than 90,000 jobs in the world in 2015.
A quarter of world’s energy demand could come from solar thermoelectric parks in 2050. Renovalia’s technology is a result of the company’s bid for its R+D division. R+D investment allows the company to optimize the operational assets of Renovalia and other companies.
By means of vertical integration the company neutralises the risk related to the dependence of external suppliers, minimizes delivery risk and reduces costs. Renovalia installs the most efficient and environmentally friendly technologies and manages to comply with the lead-times contemplated during the construction of the plants.
Renovalia is a company specialised in the promotion, engineering, construction, operation and sale of electricity generated by sources of renewable energy. The company has a 360º focus: it has wind power, solar photovoltaic, solar thermoelectric and mini-hydraulic projects.
Renovalia was founded more than 10 years ago. This initiative arose from the desire to combat climate change and improve people’s lives by eliminating traditional, highly polluting energy sources from their production processes.
Today Renovalia is one of the leading companies in the sector in Spain and it has one of the most balanced energy mixes in the market. It is one of the biggest producers of clean energy of the country. The company has always maintained a business strategy of continuous investment, aiming to increase its presence in the market at both national and international level.
Renovalia wants to become a global reference in the renewable energy sector in the near future. The company has an ambitous expansion plan.
Renovalia is present in 8 countries (Spain, U.S., Canada, Mexico, Italy, Romania, Hungary and Turkey) and has 552.5MW in operation and under construction. It owns 10 wind farms, 4 solar photovoltaic plants, a mini-hydraulic power plant and a solar thermoelectric plant.
The company has a pipeline of 2.4GW, which is diversified both technologically and geographically. In 2009 Renovalia managed to avoid the emission into the atmosphere of 380,399 tonnes of CO2 as a result of the production of renewable energy and the optimisation of the efficiency of its assets. This figure is equivalent to CO2 that a forest of 1,000,000 trees absorbs in all its life.
