The facility features a capacity of 50 MW and is currently producing termal heat. The salts used for thermal storage are already melted and stored, according to Mr Oliver Vorbrugg, Project Management at the firm. This heat will be used to generate steam for moving a turbine. The final testing phase is closer now.
The plant, with an area of 510,000 m2 equals 70 football pitches, according to the German company. The plant was built by ACS-Cobra, a Spanish contractor, and has 320 rows of collectors, totaling 90 km long.
After seven years of development, and an investment above 300 m eur, SolarMillennium has reached an agreement to sell its share to some solar funds. This will allow the company to have the liquidity to make new developments in CSP.
Meanwhile, other plants like Andasol II and Andasol III are under construction. According to SolarMillenium, three quarters of Andasol II have already been completed, and the plant should start producing electricity in the spring of 2009.
For additional information:
www.solarmillennium.de
www.grupocobra.com
