The PS10 Solar Power Plant (Spanish: Planta Solar 10), is the world's first commercial concentrating solar power tower operating near Seville, in Andalusia, Spain. The 11 megawatt (MW) solar power tower produces electricity with 624 large movable mirrors called heliostats.[2] It took four years to build and so far has cost €35 million (US$46 million).[3] PS10 produces about 23,400 megawatt-hours (MW·h) per year, for which it receives €271 (US$360) per MW·h under its power purchase agreement, equating to a revenue of €6.3 million per year.[4]
| PS10 Solar Power Plant | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Official name | Planta Solar 10 |
| Country | Spain |
| Location | Sanlúcar la Mayor, Seville Province, Andalusia |
| Coordinates | 37°26′35″N 6°15′00″W / 37.4431°N 6.25°W |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 2004 |
| Commission date | 30 March 2007[1] |
| Construction cost | €35 million |
| Owner | Abengoa Solar |
| Solar farm | |
| Type | CSP |
| CSP technology | Solar power tower |
| Collectors | 624 |
| Site resource | 2,012 kWh/m2/yr |
| Power generation | |
| Nameplate capacity | 11 MW |
| Capacity factor | 24% |
| Annual net output | 23.4 GWh |
| External links | |
| Commons | Related media on Commons |
Suppliers
editThe mirrors were delivered by Abengoa, the solar receiver was designed and built by Tecnical-Tecnicas Reunidas, and the Solar Tower was designed and built by ALTAC, both Spanish engineering and construction companies.[citation needed]
Specifications
editEach of the mirrors has a surface measuring 120 square metres (1,300 sq ft) that concentrates the sun's rays to the top of a 115-meter (377 ft) high, 40-story tower where a solar receiver and a steam turbine are located. The turbine drives a generator, producing electricity.[2]
The PS10 is located 20 km west of Seville (which receives at least nine hours of sunshine 320 days per year, with 15 hours per day in mid summer). The solar receiver at the top of the tower produces saturated steam at 257 °C. The energy conversion efficiency is approximately 17%.[5]
Plans
editPS10 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.[citation needed] 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.[2]
300 MW:
Completed and is operating:
total: 180 MW.
Three more plants are planned:
- AZ20 (20 MW)
- Solnova 2 (50 MW)
- Solnova 5 (50 MW)
Total 120 MW.
PS20 and AZ20 are twin 20 MWe tower plants based on the same concept as PS10.[6]
Energy storage
editThe PS10 solar power tower stores heat in tanks as superheated and pressurized water at 50 bar and 285 °C. The water evaporates and flashes back to steam, releasing energy and reducing the pressure. Storage is for 30 minutes.[7] It is suggested that longer storage is possible, but that has not been proven 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 without substantial losses (see Concentrated solar power). Another possibility is to use a phase-change material as thermal storage where latent heat is used to store energy.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Méndez, Juan (31 March 2007). "Inaugurada en Sanlúcar una planta solar que producirá energía para abastecer a toda Sevilla". ElPaís.es.
- ^ a b c First EU Commercial Concentrating Solar Power Tower Opens in Spain, Ens-newswire.com, archived from the original on 8 July 2007, retrieved 12 August 2022
- ^ First European Solar Power Tower, Electronic Healing, archived from the original on 5 October 2011, retrieved 25 January 2012
- ^ "Planta Solar 10". Concentrating Solar Power Projects. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE). 21 April 2009. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
- ^ Graham-Cumming, John (2009). The Geek Atlas: 128 Places Where Science & Technology Come Alive. O'Reilly Media. p. 112. ISBN 978-0-596-52320-6. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
- ^ SolarPACES Home Page, Solarpaces.org, archived from the original on 10 February 2012, retrieved 25 January 2012
- ^ "Abengoa Solar :: Our plants :: Operating facilities :: Spain". www.abengoasolar.com. Archived from the original on 19 June 2013.