The two concentrating solar power (CSP) plants belong to the Extremadura Solar Complex, the largest solar thermal plant in Europe with 200 MW capacity.
Abengoa (MCE: ABG.B), the company that develops innovative technology solutions for sustainable development in the energy and environment sectors, has begun operation of Solaben 1 and Solaben 6, two 50 MW parabolic trough CSP plants located in Extremadura, Spain.
The two concentrating solar power (CSP) plants belong to the Extremadura Solar Complex, the largest solar thermal plant in Europe with 200 MW capacity, and produce clean energy the equivalent to that needed to fulfill the needs of 104,000 households.
Abengoa has also closed the non-recourse financing for both plants totaling 200 M€, which will free up the equivalent amount of equity invested in these projects, marking the first step in the company’s recently announced divestment plan.
The plants at the Extremadura Solar Complex employ the parabolic trough technology. Parabolic-shaped mirrors are set on structures that track the movement of the sun, and solar radiation is concentrated on a receiver tube. Inside the tube flows a heat-absorbing fluid, which reaches approximately 750 degrees Fahrenheit. This fluid transfers the thermal energy to then transform water into steam, which drives a turbine to generate electricity.
Abengoa designs, constructs and operates its own plants, using parabolic trough, tower and photovoltaic technologies. With 22 plants in operation, Abengoa has a total installed capacity of 943 MW, as well as 710 MW under construction worldwide.
