Torresol Energy is a 40-60 joint venture between Abu Dhabi’s energy company Masdar and Spanish engineering and construction firm SENER.
Torresol Energy’s commercial-scale CSP facility, which features a central tower receiver with thermal storage capabilities, has started supplying electricity to 25,000 homes in the Andalucia region of Spain.
The Gemasolar facility comprises 2,650 heliostats that stretch approximately 185 hectares, and is expected to save approximately 30,000 tonnes of CO2 emission a year.
SENER provided the technology, the engineering detail design and part of the EPC and commissioning works of the plant.
SENER’ technology includes the molten salt storage system and the receiver, which is able to absorb 95% of the radiation from the sun’s spectrum and transmit this energy to the molten salt compound that circulates within the receiver, which is then used to heat steam and operate the steam turbines.
The Gemasolar project received EUR171m ($242.4m) financing through a transaction that involved European financial institutions including Banco Popular, Banesto, ICO and the European Investment Bank.
