Abengoa‘s Solana project, a parabolic trough concentrating solar power (CSP) plant with a total installed capacity of 280 gross MW with thermal energy storage, has successfully passed commercial operation tests.
With its energy storage system, Solana is able to generate electricity for six hours without the concurrent use of the solar field.
The project, located near Gila Bend and about 70 miles southwest of Phoenix, Arizona, began construction in 2010 and on October 7, successfully fulfilled production forecasts required to-date and testing for commercial operation.
These tests included operating at the solar power turbine’s full capacity while charging the thermal storage system, continuing to produce electricity after the sun goes down, and starting up the plant and producing six hours of electricity using only the thermal storage system. These tests successfully demonstrated the various operation modes of the plant’s operation.
Arizona Public Service (APS) will purchase all of the electricity produced by the solar plant for 30 years through a power purchase agreement with Abengoa.
