Torresol energy says it is on track to commission two 50 MW concentrating solar power (CSP) plants in Spain in 2011 and to meet its target of an installed CSP capacity of 320 MW by the end of 2013.
Torresol – a joint venture between Spain’s Sener and Masdar of the UAE – has start construction of the two plants, Valle 1 and Valle 2, at a site in Cadiz, Spain. The two plants will use parabolic trough collector technology and should have a net electrical output of 175 GWh/year.
The two facilities are a key part of Torresol’s strategy to develop on average two new CSP plants per year across the world’s “sun-belt” countries. It has also started construction of the Gemasolar CSP project in Seville, Spain.
The Valle 1 and 2 plants, which will employ a solar field of 510 120 square metres of mirrors on a surface area of 460 ha,
will feature thermal storage systems that will allow them to produce electricity for seven hours without sunshine.
Sener is providing the technology for the Valle plants, which it is building together with partner AMSA.
Torresol began construction of the Gemasolar power plant after it sealed financing of EUR171 million in January this year. The 17 MWe facility will be the world’s first commercial-scale solar facility to use central tower and salt receiver technology.
Work completed to date at the Gemasolar site includes plant access and adaptation of the terrain for the solar field. Construction of the solar tower began in April and construction work has also started on the plant’s power island.
