"World's Largest" Concentrating Solar Plant Receives Funding

Abengoa Solar’s “Solana,” touted as the world’s largest concentrating solar power (CSP) plant, has received a $1.45 billion loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy. The plant will use a CSP system employing parabolic troughs to generate a projected 250 MW, enough to power 70,000 homes. Parabolic troughs are curved mirrors that gather sunlight and reflect it onto a linear absorber through which synthetic oil flows. The troughs are mounted on a motorized base to follow the sun throughout the day and maximize exposure. Located 70 miles southwest of Phoenix, Arizona, the plant is supported in part by a purchasing agreement with Arizona Public Service. For more information, see “Utility-Scale Solar Thermal Growing Fast,”

EBN June 2008. Meanwhile, the plug has just been pulled on another large CSP plant, Tessera Solar’s “Calico Solar Power Project,” which would have used concentrating dish heliostats and Stirling engines. The project was purchased by K Road Power, which plans to build the 850 MW plant using solar panels.