PS10 solar power plant
Europe's first commercial concentrating PS10 solar power tower is operating near the sunny southern Spanish city of Seville. The 11 megawatt solar power tower produces electricity with 624 large movable mirrors called heliostats.[1] The mirrors were delivered by Abengoa, the solar receiver was designed and built by Tecnical-Tecnicas Reunidas, a Spanish Engineering Company; and the Solar Tower was designed and built by ALTAC [2], another Spanish Engineering and Construction Company.
Each of the mirrors has a surface measuring 120 square meters (1,292 square feet) that concentrates the Sun's rays to the top of a 115 meter (377 ft) high, 35-story tower where a solar receiver and a steam turbine are located. The turbine drives a generator, producing electricity.[1] This power is three times more expensive than power from conventional sources, but prices are likely to fall, as they have with wind power and as the technologies develop. [3]
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 Sanlucar la Mayor are the PS10, and Sevilla PV, the largest low concentration system photovoltaic plant in Europe.[1]
See also
- List of solar thermal power stations
- Solar power tower
- Renewable energy in the European Union
- Solar power in Spain
- Solar thermal energy
- Solucar