RSS/ATOMAbengoa Solar Builds Solar Power Generation Station in Arizona
By sblackb • Feb 26th, 2008 • Category: Alternative Energy SourcesOn Sunday I posted on the new Solana Power Generating station that is being planned for an alfalfa field in central Arizona. Three miles of solar PT1 Trough will collect the sun’s heat energy and transform it into steam; in turn powering clean energy producing turbines. But this is not the first trip that Abengoa Solar has made to the desert.
Solar for Federal Correctional Institution in Phoenix, Arizona
In 1999, Abengoa Solar installed 17,000 ft2 (1584 m2) of solar PT1 Trough to feed a 23,000 gallon hot water storage tank. Even though the system is solar, it delivers 70 percent of the hot water needs around the clock to 1,200 prison inmates and staff.
Maybe more importantly, this solar energy has reduced net electricity use by about 1.1 million kWh annually which is equal to about 10% of total facility use. In perfect conditions (which we have a lot of in Arizona,) the solar system saves over 4,000 kWh of electricity in a single day.
What’s interesting is that the solar system is owned and operated by Abengoa Solar. The solar energy delivered is metered and is sold to FCI-Phoenix under a cost-shared, Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC). I wonder if there are talks of Abengoa Solar also being owner/operator of the Solana Power Generating Station so APS doesn’t need to front the capital?
Cochise College Solar HVAC
Cochise College in Douglas, Arizona has also benefited from Abengoa Solar’s expertise. In October 2006, the college installed 6,800 ft2 of PT-1 solar collectors delivering both cooling and heating to the Cochise College campus. Solar heating is not new, but cooling is a bit of a unique twist. To adequately cool the hot desert air, a 60-ton single-stage, ammonia-cycle absorption chiller sourced from Energy Concepts in Annapolis, MD is used to produce chilled water for air-conditioning. A 7,500-gallon pressurized storage tank allows water to be stored at temperatures up to 250 F (121 C) so that heating or cooling can be delivered at any time of the day or night.
The system incorporates the first application of Abengoa Solar’s new cutting-edge control and data monitoring system. This helps maximize collector field performance with remote data access and control via the internet.
Want to see it?
Finally, for all you YouTube junkies out there, here is a short video that has some interesting computer generated models and fly-overs on the proposed Solana Power Plant.
And if you are interested in the Solar Tower Concept, here is video that highlight the Seville Thermo-tower Plant in 2007:
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sblackb is Scott and Liz share a passion for the outdoors and want to help protect the natural beauty of our planet. Scott feels like one of the best ways to accomplish this is to take on responsible power use, generation and learning new methods for better living with less resources.
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