AORA Solar Completes Construction of its Second Hybrid Micro CSP Power Station
100 kWe Research and Demonstration Plant in Almeria, Spain Requires Less Land and Water to Generate
More Usable Electric Power and Heat Energy Than Other Solar Energy Systems
Rehovot, Israel and Almeria, Spain – January 4, 2012 – AORA Solar (www.aora-solar.com), a leading
developer of applied ultra-high temperature concentrating solar power (CSP) technology, announced today
that it has completed construction on its second gas turbine solar thermal power station. The station, built in
Almeria, Spain, is now undergoing commissioning and certification and is scheduled to begin regular power
generation early this year.
The first AORA power station was constructed in Kibbutz Samar, Israel.
In addition to producing electricity, the Almeria plant also produces 170 kW of heat as a byproduct, which
will be used to power a desalination plant. The station was constructed over a period of seven months, and
is designed for a minimum economic lifespan of 25 years.
AORA's innovative energy generating system is designed to require less land and less water while
generating more usable power and heat than other solar energy systems. The company's revolutionary
hybrid approach enables the system to run not only on solar radiation, but on almost any alternative fuel as
well, including biogas, biodiesel and natural gas. This enables a variety of operation modes – from solaronly mode, where electricity is supplied from ample sunlight, to hybrid-mode, where fuel helps generate
electricity when sunlight is insufficient, such as when it is cloudy, to fuel-only mode during night hours or
heavily overcast periods, thereby guaranteeing an uninterrupted power supply 24 hours a day.
The station's modular approach offers wide implementation options, allows for construction in scattered
locations and on sloped land, places less stress on the energy grid and provides customers with the ability
to finance installations in stages.
"We are very excited to complete construction on our second power station, and we look forward to
demonstrating our unique ability to provide our customers with uninterrupted, 24/7 clean-power," said Zev
Rosenzweig, AORA's CEO. "Our technology and scalable solution can be easily customized for a variety of
applications and environments and I believe this demonstration unit will be quickly followed by additional
installations in Spain and around the world."
AORA’s Almeria power station is situated on half an acre of land in Platforma Solar Almeria, the world's
largest and most exclusive science park dedicated solely to the research and development of solar-based
power-generating systems. The plant consists of a field of 52 tracking mirrors (heliostats). Each heliostat
follows the sun and directs its rays towards the top of a 35 meter-high tower housing a special solar
receiver along with a 100kWe gas turbine. The patented receiver uses the sun’s energy to heat air to a
temperature of 1,000 degrees Celsius and directs this energy into the turbine. The turbine then converts
this thermal energy into electric power.
AORA will officially dedicate the plant in a special ceremony on February 7, 2012. Guests will include
politicians, businessmen and VIPs from Spain, Israel, the United States and several other countries. To
confirm participation as a journalist, please email matthew@finnpartners.co.il.
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About AORA Solar
AORA, a renewable energy pioneer, is a leading developer of applied ultra-high temperature concentrating
solar power (CSP) technologies. AORA's modular solar power generation solutions are comprised of very
small modular units (100kWe / 170kW heat) which can be linked together into centrally controlled power
plants, customized to client demand. When the amount of sunlight is not sufficient, the system can operate
on almost any alternative fuel source, thereby guaranteeing an uninterrupted green power supply,
24hr/day. For more information please visit www.aorasolar.es or www.aora-solar.com.
Company Contacts
Pierre Elbaz, Vice President Marketing
pierre.elbaz@aorasolar.es
Media Contacts
Finn Partners for AORA Solar
Matthew Krieger
+972-544-676-950
matthew@finnpartners.co.il