PS10 solar power tower
Encyclopedia
The PS10 Solar Power Plant , is Europe's first commercial concentrating solar power tower
operating near Seville
, in Andalucia, Spain. The 11 megawatt (MW) solar power tower produces electricity with 624 large movable mirrors called heliostats. It took four years to build and so far cost €35 million.
, the solar receiver was designed and built by , a Spanish engineering company; and the Solar Tower was designed and built by ALTAC, another Spanish engineering and construction company.
Each of the mirrors has a surface measuring 120 m² (1,292 square feet) that concentrates the sun's rays to the top of a 115 metre (377 ft) high, 40-storey tower where a solar receiver and a steam turbine are located. The turbine drives a generator, producing electricity.
PS10 is the first of a set of solar power
generation plants to be constructed in the same area that will total more than 300 MW by 2013. Power generation will be accomplished using a variety of technologies. The first two power plants to be brought into operation at Sanlúcar la Mayor
are the PS10, and Sevilla PV, the largest low concentration system photovoltaic plant in Europe.
PS20 has been completed and is operating.
Four more plants are planned:
AZ20 and Solnova50-1, Solnova50-2, Solnova50-3, in the same area where PS10 is being built.
PS20 and AZ20 are twin 20 MWe tower plants based on the same concept as PS10.http://www.solarpaces.org/Tasks/Task1/ps10.htm
as superheated and pressurized water at 50 bar and 285°C. The water evaporates and flashes back to steam, when pressure is lowered. Storage is for one hour. It is suggested that longer storage is possible, but that has not been proven yet in an existing power plant. However, there are many considerations for using molten salt
as an energy storage medium due to the great capability of storing energy for long periods of time with only insignificant losses.
Solar power tower
The solar power tower is a type of solar furnace using a tower to receive the focused sunlight. It uses an array of flat, movable mirrors to focus the sun's rays upon a collector tower...
operating near Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
, in Andalucia, Spain. The 11 megawatt (MW) solar power tower produces electricity with 624 large movable mirrors called heliostats. It took four years to build and so far cost €35 million.
Suppliers
The mirrors were delivered by AbengoaAbengoa
Abengoa is a Spanish multinational corporation, which includes companies in the domains of energy, telecommunications, transportation, and the environment...
, the solar receiver was designed and built by , a Spanish engineering company; and the Solar Tower was designed and built by ALTAC, another Spanish engineering and construction company.
Specification
Future plans
Solar power
Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation, along with secondary solar-powered resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available...
generation plants to be constructed in the same area that will total more than 300 MW by 2013. Power generation will be accomplished using a variety of technologies. The first two power plants to be brought into operation at Sanlúcar la Mayor
Sanlúcar la Mayor
Sanlúcar la Mayor is a municipality in the province of Seville, southern Spain. The municipality is also the location of the Solucar solar power plant....
are the PS10, and Sevilla PV, the largest low concentration system photovoltaic plant in Europe.
PS20 has been completed and is operating.
Four more plants are planned:
AZ20 and Solnova50-1, Solnova50-2, Solnova50-3, in the same area where PS10 is being built.
PS20 and AZ20 are twin 20 MWe tower plants based on the same concept as PS10.http://www.solarpaces.org/Tasks/Task1/ps10.htm
Energy storage
The PS10 solar power tower stores heat in tanksSteam accumulator
A Steam accumulator is an insulated steel pressure tank containing hot water and steam under pressure. It is a type of energy storage device. It can be used to smooth out peaks and troughs in demand for steam. Steam accumulators may take on a significance for energy storage in solar thermal...
as superheated and pressurized water at 50 bar and 285°C. The water evaporates and flashes back to steam, when pressure is lowered. Storage is for one hour. It is suggested that longer storage is possible, but that has not been proven yet in an existing power plant. However, there are many considerations for using molten salt
Molten salt
Molten salt refers to a salt that is in the liquid phase that is normally a solid at standard temperature and pressure . A salt which is normally liquid at STP is usually called a room temperature ionic liquid, although technically molten salts are a class of ionic liquids.-Uses:Molten salts have...
as an energy storage medium due to the great capability of storing energy for long periods of time with only insignificant losses.
See also
- PS20 solar power towerPS20 solar power towerThe Planta Solar 20 solar power plant is a solar thermal energy plant in Sanlucar la Mayor near Seville in Andalusia, Spain. It is the world's most powerful solar power tower. The 20 megawatt solar power tower produces electricity with large movable mirrors called heliostats.Construction of...
- List of solar thermal power stations
- Renewable energy in the European UnionRenewable energy in the European UnionThe countries of the European Union are currently the number two global leaders in the development and application of renewable energy. Promoting the use of renewable energy sources is important both to the reduction of the EU's dependence on foreign energy imports, and in meeting targets to combat...
- Solar power in SpainSolar power in SpainSpain is one of the most advanced countries in the development of solar energy, since it is one of the countries of Europe with more hours of sunshine. The Spanish government committed to achieving a target of 12 percent of primary energy from renewable energy by 2010 with an installed solar...
- Solar thermal energySolar thermal energySolar thermal energy is a technology for harnessing solar energy for thermal energy . Solar thermal collectors are classified by the United States Energy Information Administration as low-, medium-, or high-temperature collectors. Low-temperature collectors are flat plates generally used to heat...
- SolucarSolúcarAbengoa Solar is a subsidiary of Abengoa. Its primary activities include the designing, promotion, financing attainment, construction and operation of solar power stations that use photovoltaics, concentrated photovoltaics, or concentrated solar thermal technologies.- Solar power tower :Abengoa...
External links
- Final technical progress report, for European UnionEuropean UnionThe European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
officials (November 2006) - Power station harnesses Sun's rays
- Description and pictures
- Power tower reflects well on sunny Spain