Andasol solar power station

Last updated
Andasol solar power station
Andasol 5.jpg
Andasol solar power station
Andasol solar power station
Official nameCentral Termosolar Andasol
CountrySpain
Locationnear Guadix, Granada
Coordinates 37°13′23″N3°03′37″W / 37.2231°N 3.0603°W / 37.2231; -3.0603
StatusOperational
Commission date 2009
OwnersCubico Sustainable Investments (Andasol 1 and 2) [1]
Stadtwerke München
MAN Ferrostaal
Innogy
Solar farm
Type CSP
CSP technology Parabolic trough
Site resource2,136 kWh/m2/yr [2]
Site area600 hectares (1,483 acres)
Power generation
Nameplate capacity 149.7 MW
Capacity factor 37.7% [3]
Annual net output 495 GWh [4]
Storage capacity 1,123 MW·he
External links
Commons Related media on Commons
[ edit on Wikidata]

The Andasol solar power station is a 150-megawatt (MW) concentrated solar power station and Europe's first commercial plant to use parabolic troughs. It is located near Guadix in Andalusia, Spain, and its name is a portmanteau of Andalusia and Sol (Sun in Spanish). The Andasol plant uses tanks of molten salt as thermal energy storage to continue generating electricity, irrespective of whether the sun is shining or not.

Contents

Description

Andasol consists of three projects: Andasol-1 [2] (completed 2008), Andasol-2 [5] (completed 2009) and Andasol-3 [6] (completed 2011). Each project generates approximately 165 GW-h each per year (a total of 495 GW-h for all three combined), [4] with a gross electricity output of 50  MWe and 49.9 MWe net. [7] This gives the plant a combined power output of 150 MWe. The collectors installed have a combined surface area of 51  hectares (equal to 70 soccer fields); it occupies about 200 ha of land. [7] Andasol is the first parabolic trough power plant in Europe. Because of the high altitude (1,100 m) and the semi-arid climate, the site has exceptionally high annual direct insolation of 2,200 kWh/m2 per year. [7]

Andasol has a thermal storage system which absorbs part of the heat produced in the solar field during the day. This heat is then stored in a molten salt mixture of 60%  sodium nitrate and 40%  potassium nitrate. This process almost doubles the number of operational hours at the solar thermal power plant per year. [8] Each unit fully loaded storage system holds 1,010 MW·ht of heat, enough to run the turbine and produce electricity for about 7.5 hours at full-load, in case of overcast skies or after sunset. The heat reservoirs each consist of two tanks measuring 14 m in height and 36 m in diameter and containing molten salt. Andasol 1 is able to supply environmentally friendly solar electricity for up to 200,000 people. [8] [9]

The total cost of building the three projects was estimated at €900 million. [10] [11]

Rationale

Andasol 1 cost around €300 million (US$380 million) to build. [12] Thermal energy storage costs roughly US$50 per kWh of capacity (150 lbs of salt per kWh at a storage temperature of 400 °C), according to Greg Glatzmaier of the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), totaling about 13% of Andasol's initial cost. [12]

The developers say Andasol's electricity will cost €0.271 per kilowatt-hour (kW·h) to produce. [13] Under current government policy in Spain, solar-thermal electricity will receive a feed-in tariff of just under €0.27/kW·h for the next 25 years. [9]

Like every power plant with a thermal engine, cooling is needed for the working fluid. As Andasol is built in the warm middle of the south of Spain, every Andasol unit vaporizes 870,000 cubic metres (1,140,000 cu yd) water per year (according to the developer), or 5 L/kWh (1.3 USgal/kWh). Most power plants vaporize less water (typically less than 2.5 L/kWh), or close to none if they are cooled by river or sea water. [14] [15] Although water supply is generally a problem in Spain, Andasol has ample supply due to its location near the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

Developers

Andasol 1 and 2

The developer of the Andasol 1 and Andasol 2 plants are Solar Millennium (25%) and ACS Cobra (75%). After planning, engineering and construction Solar Millennium sold their shares to ACS Group.

In 2017, the two international funds, Antin Infrastructure Partners and Deutsche Asset Management's infrastructure investment business, and the Spanish construction company Cobra Sistemas y Redes, sold full ownership to Cubico Sustainable Investments Limited. [1]

In 2018, the ICSID – the World Bank's International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes – issued a ruling that required Spain to pay €112 million to Antin Infrastructure Partners, which had claimed €218 million over the cuts to renewable energies subsidies in 2010. [16]

Satellite images of the site Andasol USGS document.jpg
Satellite images of the site

Andasol 3

Andasol 3 is developed by the consortium of Solar Millennium and MAN Ferrostaal. Marquesado Solar SL is the investor consortium which is going to commission and operate Andasol 3. Shareholders of Marquesado Solar SL are:

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar thermal energy</span> Technology using sunlight for heat

Solar thermal energy (STE) is a form of energy and a technology for harnessing solar energy to generate thermal energy for use in industry, and in the residential and commercial sectors. Solar thermal collectors are classified by the United States Energy Information Administration as low-, medium-, or high-temperature collectors. Low-temperature collectors are generally unglazed and used to heat swimming pools or to heat ventilation air. Medium-temperature collectors are also usually flat plates but are used for heating water or air for residential and commercial use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parabolic trough</span> Technology used in concentrated solar power stations

A parabolic trough collector (PTC) is a type of solar thermal collector that is straight in one dimension and curved as a parabola in the other two, lined with a polished metal mirror. The sunlight which enters the mirror parallel to its plane of symmetry is focused along the focal line, where objects are positioned that are intended to be heated. In a solar cooker, for example, food is placed at the focal line of a trough, which is cooked when the trough is aimed so the Sun is in its plane of symmetry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar Energy Generating Systems</span> Concentrated solar thermal power station in the Mojave Desert of California

Solar Energy Generating Systems (SEGS) is a concentrated solar power plant in California, United States. With the combined capacity from three separate locations at 354 megawatt (MW), it was for thirty years the world's largest solar thermal energy generating facility, until the commissioning of the even larger Ivanpah facility in 2014. It was also for thirty years the world's largest solar generating facility of any type of technology, until the commissioning of the photovoltaic Topaz Solar Farm in 2014. It consisted of nine solar power plants in California's Mojave Desert, where insolation is among the best available in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gemasolar Thermosolar Plant</span> Concentrated solar power plant

Gemasolar is a concentrated solar power plant with a molten salt heat storage system. It is located within the city limits of Fuentes de Andalucía in the province of Seville, Spain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar power in Spain</span>

Spain is one of the first countries to deploy large-scale solar photovoltaics, and is the world leader in concentrated solar power (CSP) production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PS10 solar power plant</span> Concentrated solar power station in Spain

The PS10 Solar Power Plant, 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. It took four years to build and so far has cost €35 million (US$46 million). 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solana Generating Station</span> Solar thermal power station in Arizona

The Solana Generating Station is a solar power plant near Gila Bend, Arizona, about 70 miles (110 km) southwest of Phoenix. It was completed in 2013. When commissioned, it was the largest parabolic trough plant in the world, and the first U.S. solar plant with molten salt thermal energy storage. Built by the Spanish company Abengoa Solar, the project can produce up to 280 megawatts (MW) gross, supplied by two 140 MW gross (125 MW net) steam turbine generators: enough electricity to meet the needs of approximately 70,000 homes and obviate the emission of roughly 475,000 tons of CO2 every year. Its name is the Spanish term for "sunny spot".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PS20 solar power plant</span> Solar thermal energy plant in Spain

The PS20 solar power plant (PS20) solar power plant is a solar thermal energy plant in Sanlucar la Mayor near Seville in Andalusia, Spain. It was the world's most powerful solar power tower until the Ivanpah Solar Power Facility in California became operational in 2014. The 20 megawatt (MW) solar power tower produces electricity with large movable mirrors called heliostats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Concentrated solar power</span> Use of mirror or lens assemblies to heat a working fluid for electricity generation

Concentrated solar power systems generate solar power by using mirrors or lenses to concentrate a large area of sunlight into a receiver. Electricity is generated when the concentrated light is converted to heat, which drives a heat engine connected to an electrical power generator or powers a thermochemical reaction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar Millennium</span>

Solar Millennium was a German company globally active in the renewable energy sector founded in 1998 in Erlangen, Germany, which is specialized in the designing and implementation of solar thermal power plants. The main activities are site selection, project development, planning, design and construction of parabolic trough power plants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar power tower</span> Type of solar furnace with a tower receiving focused light

A solar power tower, also known as 'central tower' power plant or 'heliostat' power plant, is a type of solar furnace using a tower to receive focused sunlight. It uses an array of flat, movable mirrors to focus the sun's rays upon a collector tower. Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) systems are seen as one viable solution for renewable, pollution-free energy.

eSolar Concentrating solar power

eSolar is a privately held company that develops concentrating solar power (CSP) plant technology. The company was founded by the Pasadena-based business incubator Idealab in 2007 as a developer of CSP plant technology. The company aims to develop a low cost alternative to fossil fuels through a combination of small heliostats, modular architecture, and a high-precision sun-tracking system. In October 2017, an article in GreenTech Media suggested that eSolar ceased business in late 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valle Solar Power Station</span> Two adjacent twin 50 MW solar thermal power plants

The Valle Solar Power Station is a two adjacent twin 50 MW solar thermal power plants in San José del Valle, Cádiz, Spain, near the border with the Arcos de la Frontera (north) and the Jerez de la Frontera (west) municipalities, in the comarca of the Campiña de Jerez, a county with no administrative role.

The Extresol Solar Power Station is a 150 megawatt (MW) commercial concentrated solar thermal power plant, located in Torre de Miguel Sesmero in the province of Badajoz, Extremadura, Spain.

Alvarado I is a large solar thermal power station in Alvarado, province of Badajoz, in Extremadura, Spain. Construction on the plant commenced in December 2007 and was completed in July 2009, when commercial operations began. Built by the Spanish company Acciona Energy, it has an installed capacity of 50 MWe and lays next to the La Florida solar thermal power station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar power in Italy</span>

Solar power is an important contributor to electricity generation in Italy, accounting for 11.8% of total generation in 2023, up from 0.6% in 2010 and less than 0.1% in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project</span> Solar power station in Nevada, United States

The Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project is a solar thermal power project with an installed capacity of 110 megawatt (MW) and 1.1 gigawatt-hours of energy storage located near Tonopah, about 190 miles (310 km) northwest of Las Vegas. Crescent Dunes is the first commercial concentrated solar power (CSP) plant with a central receiver tower and advanced molten salt energy storage technology at full scale, following the experimental Solar Two and Gemasolar in Spain at 50 MW. As of 2023, it is operated by its new owner; ACS, and in a new contract with NV Energy, it now supplies solar energy at night only, drawing on thermal energy stored each day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ouarzazate Solar Power Station</span> Concentrated solar power station in Drâa-Tafilalet, Morocco

Ouarzazate Solar Power Station (OSPS), also called Noor Power Station is a solar power complex and auxiliary diesel fuel system located in the Drâa-Tafilalet region in Morocco, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from Ouarzazate town, in Ghessat rural council area. At 510 MW, it is the world's largest concentrated solar power (CSP) plant. With an additional 72 MW photovoltaic system the entire project was planned to produce 582 MW. The total project's estimated cost is around $9 billion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park</span> Solar park in the Emirate of Dubai

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is a solar park spread over a total area of 77 km2 (30 sq mi) in Saih Al-Dahal, about 50 km (31 mi) south of the city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

References

  1. 1 2 "Cubico completes acquisition of Andasol 1 and Andasol 2 concentrated solar power plants in Spain". helioscsp.com. Protermosolar. 27 July 2017. Archived from the original on 31 July 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  2. 1 2 (NREL) Andasol-1
  3. ↑ Baseload (24/7) Solar is here! Archived 2012-10-25 at the Wayback Machine
  4. 1 2 Annual report of Stadtwerke München, page 16 Archived 2013-11-27 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ (NREL) Andasol-2
  6. ↑ (NREL) Andasol-3
  7. 1 2 3 "AndaSol — EU Project". FLAGSOL GmbH. Archived from the original on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-30.
  8. 1 2 "Andasol 1 Goes Into Operation". RenewableEnergyWorld.com. 2008-11-06. Retrieved 2009-02-21.
  9. 1 2 "Andasol: The World's Largest Solar Thermal Power Plant Project Development in Andalucia (Spain)" (PDF). Solar Millennium. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-21.
  10. ↑ "The Andasol Solar Power Station Project".
  11. ↑ "Andasol Solar Power Station, Andalusia - Renewable Technology". www.renewable-technology.com. Archived from the original on 2022-12-22. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  12. 1 2 Biello, David (18 February 2009). "How to Use Solar Energy at Night". Scientific American . Retrieved 2009-10-18.[ permanent dead link ]
  13. ↑ "Lower cost of production is actually a by-product of Andasol 1's energy-storage". CSP Today. October 6, 2008. Archived from the original on 2010-04-20. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
  14. ↑ "Cooling power plants". Archived from the original on 2013-02-24. Retrieved 2012-06-22.
  15. ↑ Consumptive Water Use for U.S. Power Production
  16. ↑ Abuín, E. (21 June 2018). "España indemnizará con 112 millones a Antin por dos plantas solares granadinas". www.granadahoy.com (in Spanish). Joly Digital. Archived from the original on 21 June 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  17. ↑ "Andasol 3 solar thermal project attracts utility investors". Power Engineering. PennWell Corporation. 2009-06-10. Retrieved 2009-08-01.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.