Large Concentrating Solar Power Plant Opens in Spain
October 5, 2009 // Published as a news service by IHS
Europe's largest central receiver concentrating solar power (CSP) plant was inaugurated near Seville, Spain, on Sept. 23.
CSP systems use solar radiation as a high-temperature energy source to produce electricity out of heat, like other thermal power plants.
The new plant, called PS20, will produce enough clean electricity to supply 10,000 homes, and will prevent some 12,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per year, according to the European Commission (EC).
The PS20 plant, built and operated by Abengoa Solar, has an installed capacity of 20 megawatts. It is the second commercial plant of its kind, completed after the PS10 experience. PS20 features a number of technological improvements compared to PS10.
"I see the PS20 concentrating solar plant as a sound response to our climate and energy challenges: huge CO2 emission reductions; contributing to the security of supply by using locally available energy sources; improved technological innovation, entrepreneurial leadership and job creation," said Andris Piebalgs, European Union (EU) energy commissioner at the inauguration.
"PS20 is a clear example that EU research efforts have a multiplying effect, as it is largely building on the success of the neighbouring PS10 plant, which was the first concentrating solar power demonstration plant co-financed by the European Research Programme."
The EU has been giving support to CSP technology for more than ten years and has enabled research activities to develop, validate, demonstrate and disseminate various CSP technologies.
Under the Fifth and Sixth Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development, the EU contributed about €25 million to research projects in CSP technologies. This contribution has had a leveraging effect, leading to a significant additional private investment that totals about ten times the investments from the European Research Programme.
The EU's energy and climate package formally adopted in April 2009 contains the targets of a 20% greenhouse gas emissions reduction compared to 1990 and a 20% renewable energy share by 2020. The EU says the contribution of a wide range of technologies, including solar power, will be needed to achieve these targets.
Source: European Commission (EC).