Arizona: 280-MW Solar Plant to Use Molten Salt for Energy Storage

February 22nd, 2008

Via: PESN:

Abengoa’s plant in Arizona will cover a surface of around 1,900 acres — nearly three square miles — and will run two 140-megawatt steam generators for a total capacity of 280 MW.

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The Solana generating station will use Abengoa Solar’s concentrating solar power (CSP) trough technology, which entails long rows of mirrors which track the sun from east to west in order to best focus sunlight onto the receiver pipes. The receiver pipes are filled with fluid that is heated by the sun’s energy, much like a huge magnifying glass, to over 700 degrees. The heated fluid is then sent to a heat exchanger where steam is created, and that steam is then used to turn a turbine.

Storage via Molten Salt

The solar plant will also include a thermal energy storage system that allows for electricity to be produced as required, even after the sun has set. Large insulated tanks filled with molten salt can be used with concentrating solar power (CSP) to store the heat from the fluid. This stored heat can then be used to produce energy during periods of low or no sun, including the evening hours.

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