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Abengoa Starts Operations at 20-MW Solar Power Tower Plant

April 28, 2009 | 3 Comments

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Seville, Spain [RenewableEnergyWorld.com] Following the conclusion of the successful three-day production and operational testing period, Abengoa Solar has started commercial operation of the new PS20 solar power tower plant located at the Solucar Platform, near Seville, Spain. Over the course of the testing period, PS20 surpassed the predicted power output.

Each heliostat, with a surface area of 1,291 square feet, reflects the solar radiation it receives onto the receiver, located on the top of a 531 feet-high tower.

PS20 is the world's second power tower plant in commercial use. PS20 features a number of significant technological improvements with respect to PS10, the first commercial power tower. With a power capacity of 20 megawatts, double that of PS10, the new PS20 solar power plant consists of a solar field made up of 1,255 mirrored heliostats designed by Abengoa Solar.

Each heliostat, with a surface area of 1,291 square feet, reflects the solar radiation it receives onto the receiver, located on the top of a 531 feet-high tower, producing steam which is converted into electricity generation by a turbine. Plant construction was carried out by Abener.

"Generating more power during production testing than the design output is indeed a significant milestone. The technological breakthroughs we have achieved, coupled with our cumulative expertise, have enabled us to take a qualitative leap forward in our power tower technology,” said Santiago Seage, CEO of Abengoa Solar.

Solar Energy

3 Reader Comments

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1 of 3

agostinho-miguel-7566

April 29, 2009

While some talk about doing it, these guys continue doing and talking little about it!

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2 of 3

rolf-westgard-67277

April 29, 2009

I would like to know the cost and capacity factor. It would probably take about 100 of these to equal a typical nuclear plant.

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paul-swift-38372

April 29, 2009

It looks to have a clear sky full sunlight capacity of something less than 150 Mw. A typical nuclear facility might be 6 Gw (for easy dividing). So four of these would be the same as a large gas turbine powerplant (600 Mw) and forty would equal one nuclear powerplant.

That's only when the sun is shining of course and with no inefficiencies, using 1 Kw/sq m initial energy density at ground level with perfect mirrors.

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