Gemasolar: the 24 h solar operation.
Santiago Arias
© Torresol Energy
A Strong Alliance
60%
• Engineering,
consulting,
and
systems
integration company. Founded in 1956.
• Very active in Solar Energy since 2000.
– Technology developer: SENERtrough collector
system, Sensol software, heliostats, heliostat axis drive
mechanisms, molten salt technology (as storage
system and as heat transfer fluid) central tower
receiver… amongst many other innovations.
– PSA Tower Prototype.
– Turn Key Projects: Andasol 1 & 2, in Granada;
Extresol 1, 2 & 3, in Badajoz; one plant in La
Garrovilla… (22 CSP plants)
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40%
• 100%
“Mubadala
Development
Company” stockholding.
• Mubadala Development Company”
belongs to the Abu Dhabi Emirate.
• Goal:
development
and
commercialization
of
innovative
technologies
in
renewable,
alternative and sustainable energies.
Already Producing Results
© Torresol Energy
Sener Solar Technology
• Parabolic Trough
Plants
• Central Tower
Solar Plants
• The Thermal
Storage System
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Senertrough Solar Collector
 Low manufacturing cost
 Low assembly cost
 High repeatability during manufacturing
and assembly of the SCEs
 High performance
 Good durability and maintenance costs
Installation (1 loop=576 m of trough):

156x3 loops in Extresol 1,2&3 (270Km)

152x2 loops in Manchasol 1&2

156x2 loops in Valle 1&2

156x2 loops in Termosol 1&2

120x2 loops in ASTE 1&2

96 loops in Soluz Guzman

230x2 in USA (FLP)

124 loops in Orellana

168 loops in Africana

105 loops in Villena

156 loops in Casablanca

2X 320 loops in Lanco 1 &2
2041 Km of trough, 4.5 M arms
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CENTRAL TOWER PLANTS
with
MOLTEN SALT STORAGE
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Gemasolar Plant
Basic Plant Description
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M. Salt Central Tower
Advantages
•
High thermal storage capacity.
– Due to the storage system, the turbine operation is not immediately affected by
a cloud or a sudden high speed wind. A cloud will affect the production 6-15
hours later.
– The turbine would not stop every night. Longer expected life.
– The turbine power is manageable. We may choose reduce the output during the
night, at valley time, to reach 24 h of continuous operation at lower rate.
– We maximize the asset utilization. In case of GS will are expecting to produce
6400 h/year, maximizing the profitability
•
Lower operational costs
– No mobile piping system. No swivel joints.
– All fluids concentrated in an small area. Lower thermal loses and maintenance
costs. Self draining piping.
– The same fluid is used for heat transfer and storage. Less thermal
interexchange
•
Highest cycle efficiency
– The molten salts reach highest temperatures maximizing thermodynamic
efficiency.
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GEMASOLAR IN FIGURES
• First CSP plant in the world operating 24 h/day.
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Local Content
The plant is composed of :
80 km of internal roads (local)
5 Km or paved roads (local)
2650 Heliostat Foundations (local)
2650 Heliostat columns and metal structure (local)
2650 Heliostat assembly (local)
300,000 m2 of flat silvered glass (local)
1 Reinforced concrete tower (local)
Carbon steel and SS piping (local)
Carbon and SS tanks and vessels (local)
Hundreds of Km of cooper wire (local)
Electrical installation (local)
5500 Standard Electrical motors (local)
Etc.
In the case of Gemasolar (Spain):
99% of the added value was European
90% of the added value was local (Spanish)
65% of the added value was local (Andalusia region)
º © Torresol Energy
Investment
Economical
activity.
Jobs.
Long term
free and
clean
energy
Actual Performance
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Production meets expected values
• Producing electricity since May.
• Exceeded nominal values
Thermal Power :More
than120MWt
Electrical power : 19,9 MWe
• Improving daily production: Fast
learning curve for an innovative
project.
• Excellent production predictions
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Production meets expected values
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What about the future?
• We, and most of the analysts, consider that the
technology of Central Tower plants with Molten
Salts has higher opportunities to achieve the
grid parity in a shorter period of time due to:
• Larger future cost reduction.
• Size to be increased.
• New equipment yet to be developed.
• Affordable construction materials.
• High percentage of local content. Concrete,
structural steel ,flat glass…
• Next Steps:
• 240 MWt receiver (5000 heliostats)
• Variable electrical power depending on
Market requirements
© Torresol Energy
© Torresol Energy