Gemasolar solar thermal power plant

Gemasolar, central receiver plant, Fuentes de Andalucia, Sevilla, Spain.

Gemasolar is a 19.9 MWe thermosolar power plant with 120 MWt molten salt central receiver. Solar field of 310,000 m²  mirror surface. Solar thermal energy collected and stored in molten salts for 15 hours of production, and steam turbine with 3 pressure levels. Gemasolar is the first commercial plant in the world to use the high temperature tower receiver technology together with molten salt thermal storage of very long duration.

The heliostats set up around the tower refl ect and concentrate solar energy onto the molten salt receiver located at the top of the tower. In the receiver, solar energy is transferred to the molten salts circulating inside, which reach a temperature of 565 ºC. By means of a steam generation system, the molten salts produce overheated steam, that runs a turbine/alternator group to generate electrical energy which then is fed into the power grid. The Gemasolar plant design has been optimised using the SENSOL, a programe developed by SENER that defines the heliostats positioning in the solar field.

• Gemasolar is able to produce 80 GWh per year
• It generates enough power to supply 27,500 households
• It reduces by more than 28,000 tons per year the CO₂ emissions

The 115 m² heliostats designed by SENER incorporate a mechanism that accurately positions the surface of the reflective glass. The molten salt receiver, one of the most important components of this technology, has been developed by SENER with the collaboration of CIEMAT.

The molten salt system stores the excess thermal energy produced during daylight hours and provides the energy required to ensure the plant can remain operational for up to 15 hours without sunlight.

Gemasolar is able to produce 80 GWh per year, generate enough power to supply 27,500 households and reduce by more than 28,000 tons per year the CO₂ emissions.

• Project data:
• Total mirror surface: 310,000 m².
• Number of heliostats: 2,650.
• Field surface area: 195 Ha.
• Receiver capacity: 120 MWt.
• Tower height: 140 m.
• Thermal storage capacity: 670 MWhth (15 h).
• Turbine capacity: 19.9 MWe.
• Thermal cycle efficiency: 40%.
• Annual normal direct radiation: 2,100 KWh/m².
• Type of contract: EPC.
• Scope: Basic Engineering, Detail Engineering, Construction, Commissioning and Start-Up.
• Partners: ACS-COBRA.

• Operation:
• Annual equivalent hours: 5,000 h/year 
• Annual capacity factor: 55%.