SOLAR POWER PLANTS IN SPAIN

Spain's CSP market: Get set for a technology race; The sun in Spain falls mainly on the troughs…But for how much longer? CSP Today takes a closer look at the cost and performance of Fresnel and tower tech in Spain.
Andrew Williams, 6 October 2011 (CSP Today)

"By 2014, Spain will have installed 2.5GW of CSP capacity, accounting for roughly 3% of Spain's total electricity consumption…A massive 93% of the total concentrated solar power (CSP) energy currently generated in Spain is via parabolic trough technology, with tower technology accounting for 4%, and Fresnel technology accounting for just 1%...

"…[T]he fact that more than 90% of CSP generated energy in Spain derives from parabolic troughs is more a financial than a cost-competitiveness issue…[Banks feel]
more comfortable financing a technology that has been proved for more than 20 years, instead of financing new technologies with no previous commercial experiences - like Fresnel, Tower or Dish…"

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"…[T]wo variables will determine the future of Fresnel and tower technology in Spain: efficiency and cost. On one hand, companies involved in Fresnel development have demonstrated that the technology can be cheaper - but on the other, they must increase their efficiency…[T]he issues facing power tower technology are the inverse, since they can reach higher temperatures due to a higher concentration factor, which results in higher efficiency…[C]ost reductions may be possible…"

"How quickly are tower and Fresnel technologies likely to gain ground on parabolic trough technology in Spain? …[I]t is too early to answer this question…[T]he best way for power tower developers to demonstrate they are in a position to compete with Spanish parabolic trough plants is to maintain current performance levels…[T]he impressive performance of the Gemasolar and Puerto Errado plants demonstrates that Fresnel and tower technology will soon be positioned to compete aggressively on cost and efficiency."