POWER July 2010 - 9

power (CSP) plants to be built at the Solúcar Platform in Spain.
All will use a technology developed by Abengoa with experience
gained from a trough pilot built in 2007. Solnova 1 will also be
equipped to burn natural gas if sunlight is weak.
The technology essentially involves using a long curved mirror
to concentrate solar rays onto a heat-absorbing pipe inside
the trough, through which flows a liquid that reaches high
temperatures. This fluid transfers its energy to the water vapor
that reaches a turbo-generator, where it expands to produce
electricity. The new plant commenced operation after a threeday
test period, during which " plant performance matched
theoretical electrical power generation design " Abengoa said,
adding that this validates " the tremendous potential of parabolic
trough technology. "
The Abengoa-developed ASTRØ parabolic trough collector includes
more precision than previous designs because it is built with an " exclusive
process of construction and alignment, " Abengoa said.
The company plans to use the experience gained from Solnova
1 and the pilot on two 280-MW CSP plants planned for the U.S.
in Arizona and California. The Arizona project, a parabolic trough
plant near Gila Bend, and an associated 230-kV transmission line,
recently obtained the U.S. Department of Energy's clearance following
a lengthy environmental assessment. The DOE considered
286 pages of referenced impact statements that covered most
reasons to obstruct it-but found none that would have a " significant
affect [sic] on the human environment. "
Dubbed " Solana, " which means " sunny place " in Spanish, the
Arizona project would use some 2,700 trough collectors covering
roughly 1,757 acres. It would also employ, unlike the Spanish
Solnova 1 project, molten salt storage tanks to retain and store
up to six hours of heat to allow owners to dispatch power on
cloudy days and after sunset.
140-MW Geothermal Plant Starts Up
in New Zealand
One of the world's largest geothermal power stations was officially
opened this May on New Zealand's North Island. A joint venture
between Mighty River Power and Tauhara North No. 2 Trust, the
new 140-MW Nga Awa Purua Geothermal Power Station (Figure 3)
increases geothermal's share of power in New Zealand to around
14%-a proportion that has more than doubled since 2005.
Construction of the NZ$450 million (US$300 million) plant
began in May 2008 and was commissioned in April-ahead of
3. Breaking new ground. New Zealand companies Mighty
River Power and Tauhara North No. 2 Trust officially opened the 140MW
Nga Awa Purua Geothermal Power Station on that country's North
Island. The NZ$450 million project is among the largest in the world.
The Cerro Prieto power station in Mexico takes the title for the most
capacity (720 MW). Courtesy: Mighty River Power
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POWER July 2010

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