Puerto Errado 2: World’s largest CSP based on Linear-Fresnel technology

The world’s largest Linear-Fresnel Solar Power Station with 302,000 m2 reflecting surface and 30 MW output opens up a new chapter in the history of solar energy.

Five Swiss energy suppliers are owning the PE2 power station: Elektra Baselland (EBL) with 50,1 percent, Industrielle Werke Basel (IWB) with 12 percent, Elektrizitätswerke der Stadt Zürich (ewz) with 10 percent, Elektriziätswerke des Kantons Zürich (EKZ) with 6 percent and Energie Wasser Bern with 6 percent. Novatec Solar owns 15 percent.

Projects such as the PE2 in Calasparra are essential for EBL‘s aim of achieving 30 percent of energy sales with newly renewable energies by 2020.

Desert-compliant technology saves water

The solar field of the solar power station PE 2 consists of flat mirror boxes. The mirrors, which are fitted approximately one meter above ground, reflect the sunlight on a receiver located seven metres above the solar field.

The sun light is bundled and evaporates the water in the receiver. With this high-pressure steam, a conventional turbine is produced that generates electricity. The water is then cooled again and carried back for steam pressure build-up in the solar field again. With this principle, the same water can be used again and again.

The very low water consumption is a huge advantage in the dry steppes of southern Spain. The mirror boxes are produced in the town of Fortuna, not far from Calasparra. This has created new workplaces in the region. The solar power station employs about 30 people in controlled operation.

The solar large-scale power plant Puerto Errado 2 (PE 2) covers an mirror surface area of 302,000 square metres with a total of 28 rows of mirrors. The plant has an output of 30 megawatts and produces around 50 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year. This corresponds to the consumption of around 12,000 households.

Puerto Errado 2, Spain (April 2012)