Supergrid Initiative - e-Parliament: Five MEPs visit solar thermal power stations in Spain
Monday, 02 February 2009 16:09 | 
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Five MEPs have taken part in an e-Parliament tour of solar thermal power stations in Southern Spain, in the framework of the e-Parliament campaign for the Supergrid to build a modern high-voltage direct current (HVDC) electrical grid with "intelligent network" technology enabling the Euromediterranean region to pool its renewable energy from diverse, decentralised sources. The parliamentary group was integrated by Avril Doyle (Ireland, European People’s Party), Rebecca Harms (Germany, Greens/European Free Alliance), Sirpa Pietikainen (Finland, European People’s Party), Francisca Pleguezuelos (Spain, Socialist Party) and Pilar Ayuso (Spain, European People’s Party).
The MEPs visited four 50 MW solar thermal power stations: the ACS/ Solar Millennium parabolic trough plants, Andasol 1 and Andasol 2, close to Granada; the Abengoa solar tower close to Seville; and the Iberdrola parabolic trough plant close to Puertollano in the centre of Spain which is still under construction.
Cloudy weather unfortunately meant that the plants were not generating electricity but the MEPs nevertheless gained good insight into the potential of the technology, hearing presentations by some of the key figures in the industry.
José Alfonso Nebrera, Director General of ACS and President of the European Solar Thermal Electricity Association (ESTELA), explained how ACS intended to build a further six plants before 2011 to go with the two that the company already run.
Similarly Dr. Mikhel Geyer, Director of International Business Development at Abengoa, and Cayetano Gonzalves, Director of Special Projects at Iberdrola, were also able to demonstrate how the Spanish feed-in tariff system for solar thermal power was causing rapid expansion of the industry. Both companies have new solar thermal plants which will come on line in the next few months.
The MEPs were accompanied on the trip by representatives of other companies in the solar thermal industry: Alstom, Epuron, Mainstream, Siemens, Solar Millennium, and Solel. Representatives of the team of GLOBE Europe and the World Future Council also took part in the visit.
The MEPs visited four 50 MW solar thermal power stations: the ACS/ Solar Millennium parabolic trough plants, Andasol 1 and Andasol 2, close to Granada; the Abengoa solar tower close to Seville; and the Iberdrola parabolic trough plant close to Puertollano in the centre of Spain which is still under construction.
Cloudy weather unfortunately meant that the plants were not generating electricity but the MEPs nevertheless gained good insight into the potential of the technology, hearing presentations by some of the key figures in the industry.
José Alfonso Nebrera, Director General of ACS and President of the European Solar Thermal Electricity Association (ESTELA), explained how ACS intended to build a further six plants before 2011 to go with the two that the company already run.
Similarly Dr. Mikhel Geyer, Director of International Business Development at Abengoa, and Cayetano Gonzalves, Director of Special Projects at Iberdrola, were also able to demonstrate how the Spanish feed-in tariff system for solar thermal power was causing rapid expansion of the industry. Both companies have new solar thermal plants which will come on line in the next few months.
The MEPs were accompanied on the trip by representatives of other companies in the solar thermal industry: Alstom, Epuron, Mainstream, Siemens, Solar Millennium, and Solel. Representatives of the team of GLOBE Europe and the World Future Council also took part in the visit.
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