One of the challenges of solar energy is the energy source stops when the sun sets, or when there are heavy clouds above. Hence, current thinking revolves around closing the time gap with giant battery storage. In March 2009, engineers successfully implemented an alternative solution at Gaudix in Andalusia, Spain. Since then the solar power plant with a giant salt battery has faithfully supplied environmentally friendly electricity to 200,000 people.
The Solar Power Plant with a Giant Salt Battery Technology
Andalusia is the southernmost community in Spain, and nestles on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea. This mountainous region has a sunny, hot-summer Mediterranean climate, but with relatively wet winters.
The Andosol solar power plant with a giant salt battery benefits from an 1,100-metre altitude (3,600 feet). Consequently, its parabolic trough power plant – the first in Europe – receives 2,200 kWh / m² per year of pure energy. Therefore, each of three plants produces 165-gigawatt-hours annually. The total surface collection area is 51 hectares in extent, or 70 soccer fields.
Andosol’s Thermal Salt Battery Storage System
Andosol benefits from a solar thermal system comprising a molten salt mixture of 60% sodium nitrate, and 40% potassium nitrate. This absorbs part of the heat the parabolic trough system collects during the day.
When skies are overcast, or the sun has set, a fully loaded storage system contains 1,010 MWh of heat. This is sufficient to run the turbine and produce electricity for about 7.5 hours at full-load. There are three Andosol units. Each has two salt-water saline tanks measuring 14 meters high (46 feet), and 36 meters (118 feet) in diameter.
How Environmentally Friendly is Andosol Really?
The Andosol solar power plant with a giant salt battery needs water to cool the working liquid like any other thermal engine. Each of the three units vaporizes 870,000 m³ (229,829,686 U.S. gallons) of water per year.
This is considerably more water consumption than other types of power plants. However, the redeeming feature is Andosol is near the Sierra Nevada Mountains. These capture, and deliver an ample supply of water, which Andosol obliging returns to the atmosphere.
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Preview Image: Andosol Solar Power Station
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