Specials
Numbers from the sun
Various projects are under way, in the design-stage and under construction and in the next 2-3 years these will lead to the realization of the largest solar parks in the world. Some of these are almost complete or partially operative, one of the advantages of solar electrical power is that the power plants are modular and therefore it is possible to add a growing number of elements to the power plant in time.
Deming, New Mexico, USA - In 2011, what will be the largest solar power station in the world, will be completed. Its installed power of 300 MW shall be 15 times greater than the most important power plants existing on our planet today.
It is constructed by the companies New Solar Ventures and Solar Torx, and shall cover a surface area of 1,300 hectares, 300-400 people will be employed and it shall provide energy to 240,000 homes. It will cost about 1.6 billion US$
Gila Bend, Arizona, USA – The power station in Solana, not far from Phoenix, shall compete with the power station in Deming, when it shall begin operating, also in 2011. It will produce 280MW, it will employ 1,500 people and will cover an area of 769 hectares, and shall provide energy to 70,000 homes. It will be built by the companies Abengoa Solar and Arizona Public Service Company, it shall be a thermodynamic power station and various types of heliostats and receivers shall be experimented in order to evaluate their efficiency.
Fresno, California, USA – Constructed by Cleantech and California Construction Authority, it shall begin operating in 2011, and will have the important name of Kings River Conservation District Community Choise Solar Farm. It will produce 80 MW, on an area of 260 hectares that will provide energy to 21,000 homes. The same companies are building other power plants with similar powers in California. This State, thanks to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, has a law that also foresees the installation of solar panels on a million roofs in California by 2018.
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA – Built by SunPower, it produces 14.2 MW. It has been constructed on an area of 56 hectares, covered with 70,000 photovoltaic panels near the Nellis military air-base, which it provides power to, thus allowing the US aeronautics to save 1 million US$ a year.
Jumilla, Murcia, Spain – At present this power station is one of the two largest stations in the world. With 120,000 photovoltaic panels, arranged in an area of 100 hectares, it produces 20 MW, that provide energy to 20,000 homes. It was built by Luzentia Group and Atersa of Elecnor Group in 11 months, and 400 persons are employed. The location is one of the most favourable in the world for a solar power plant: in fact it has an average of 300 days of sunshine a year. It is calculated that every year it will allow savings amounting to 19 million €, and 42,000 tonnes of CO2.
At present Spain is the second producer of solar energy on a world scale, it produces 7% of its electrical energy from renewable sources and the percentage will reach 10% in 2010, with a target of 20% by 2020.
Beneixama, Alicante, Spain – This is the other most important power station in the world, together with the power plant in Jumilla. It was inaugurated in 2007 by City Solar, also this power plant produces 20 MW, with 100,000 photovoltaic panels, and provides energy to 12,000 homes.
Salamanca, Spain – This is another Spanish “solar giant” , built 15 km from Salamanca. It produces 13.8 MW from 70,000 photovoltaic panels built by the Japanese company Kyocera Corporation and distributed in three different 36-acre areas. It was inaugurated in 2007 and provides energy to over 5,000 homes.
Lobosillo, Murcia, Spain - The Spanish sun is also captured by the large power plant in Lobosillo, where 12.7 MW of power are produced, with 80,000 panels provided by Ecostream. In the near future, the number of panels should be increased by 808 more units.
Other big projects in the world
Mildura, Victoria, Australia – This power station shall be completed in 2013 but it will begin operating already in 2010. The Mildura power station shall be the largest in Australia, with a production of 154 MW. It shall be managed by the company Solar Systems, the largest company in Australia, which will produce a total of 270 MW from various power plants when also the Mildura power plant will begin operating. The aim, in Australia, is to reach 20% of the power production from renewable sources by 2020.
Lieberose, Cottbus, Brandenburg, Germany – An installed power of 53 MW, built by the company Juwi Solar, and equipped with 700,000 solar panels, it was completed at the end of 2009.
Brandis, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany – The largest “solar park” in Waldpolenz, near Leipzig should be completed by the end of 2009, by the company Juwi Solar. It will be constructed on a former military airport and will produce 40 MW, an excellent example of reutilization of an abandoned site!
Arnstein, Bavaria, Germany – This power station started operating in 2006, it uses 1,400 solar panels that can be moved, their angle can change in order to capture the maximum amount of solar energy. This characteristic has increased the production of electrical power by 35%, which at present amounts to 12 MW. The power station was built in 14 months, by Solon AG.
Germany is one of the world leaders for the production of energy from renewable sources and the undisputed leader for the production of solar energy. In 2000, 6.3% of the energy consumption in Germany was from renewable sources, but in 2006 the percentage rose to 12%. The extremely ambitious aim, which is feasible for this country is to reach the threshold of 40% of energy produced from renewable sources by 2020.
Serpa, Alentjo, Portugal – The photovoltaic power station in Serpa started operating in March 2007, it produces 11 MW, and uses 52,000 photovoltaic panels that are distributed over an area of 60 hectares, providing energy to 8,000 homes. This possibility is offered by the favourable exposure conditions of the location, that registers 3,300 hours of sunshine per year. The company that built the power plant, PowerLight, has estimated that the production in Serpa has led to a saving of 30,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.
Sinan, Jeollanam-do, South Korea - This power plant was completed in 2008, with the installation of 109,000 solar panels it keeps step with the Spanish power plants, producing 20 MW. It was built by Sun Technics, it is part of the Act on Climate Change, a document of the South Korean government to promote the use of renewable and clean sources of energy. In this Country at present only 2.3% of the energy that is utilized comes from renewable sources, 50% from oil imported from the Middle East , 25% from coal, 22% from nuclear power and natural gas. The aim is to reach 9% of energy produced from renewable sources by 2030. Besides the large power station in Sinan, South Korea will also construct one of the largest tidal power plants, for the production of energy from the tides, by 2014.
by Paola Tognini
