CSP World

In August 2012, the 30 MW solar thermal power plant Puerto Errado 2 has started commercial operation. The plant daily supplies the electricity for 15,000 homes, generated from 100% renewable resources. The plant which was turnkey delivered by the German technology provider Novatec Solar, performs excellent and even exceeds the expectations of the investors. From September 2012 until August 2013, the plant has generated 40,000 MWh of electricity.

The construction of the unique solar power plant on an area of 650,000m2 has started with the ground-breaking ceremony in April 2010. In 28 solar field rows of 1000 m length each, 302,000m2 mirror surface has been installed which captures the sun rays in southern Spain. The location Calasparra is predestined for the application, with more than 3‘000 hours of sun per year; the region is one of the sunniest in Europe.

Flat glass mirrors (so called primary reflectors) focus the sunlight onto an absorber tube filled with water. As a result, the water is heated up and evaporates at 275°C and 55 bar. The saturated steam is directed to two turbines, driving a 15 MW generator each. Thus, the thermal energy is converted into electricity and fed into the grid. The steam from the turbines is condensed in air cooled condensers and recirculated to the solar field. Special developed cleaning robots clean the mirrors during the night and ensure an almost waterless cleaning. The grass underneath the mirror rows is regularly grazed by sheep; thereby avoiding the use of machines. Furthermore, Puerto Errado 2 does not use additional energy produced by gas or oil combustion but generates steam directly, not using thermal oil as heat transfer fluid. The result is 100 percent ecological power.

The project company Tubo Sol PE2, S.L. has been founded under Spanish law for the construction and operation of the power station. Shareholder of the company are the Swiss utilities EBL (Genos-senschaft Elektra Baselland (51%), Industrielle Werke Basel (IWB) (12%), Elektrizitätswerke der Stadt Zürich (10%), Elektrizitätswerke des Kantons Zürich (6%), Energie Wasser Bern (6%) and the techno-logy provider Novatec Solar (15%).