Spain Energy

INNOVATING FOR A BETTER WORLD WITHOUT POLLUTION

RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY

SPANISH COMPANIESINNOVATING FOR A INNOVATING FOR A BETTER WORLD WITHOUT POLLUTION

EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONSRESEARCH, RESEARCH,

DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF

RENEWABLE ENERGY

INTER SOLAR EUROPE & USA 2011 Connecting Solar Business

ISSUE #5 JUNE 2011

You have here the new issue of SPAIN energy, this time dedicated to Intersolar Europe and USA. As you know, these are two major international events of the type that this journal likes to publicise and support fully, in which businesses and countries share their technology and products and in which policies are debated and analysed by experts in the energy field.

Businesses hope to make contacts at this type of event that may later evolve into contracts for the sale of their products and services, thus creating employment and wealth in their home country. This is the objective of businesses in any area or field of activity. However, competition is stiff at this type of international trade fair, which features companies that manufacture similar products at lower costs, protectionist measures implemented by State governments in favour of national products, etc. It is in this setting that Spanish firms must give it their best, selling their product with pride and shedding any misconceptions they may have.

Many of you will be aware that I have been fighting against this issue and many others for a number of years. Here in Spain we have technology centres and universities that are implementing incredible R&D programmes, we have technology, we have services and products, we have engineers who are among the best in the world, we have ope-rators who are trained to a level far superior to those in other countries, we are a ben-chmark in matters of energy, and it is you who have achieved all of this, obviously with no help from the government. So the question I would pose is what's going on? Our problem is that we are intimidated by foreign companies, products and services, and this makes it very difficult for us to push ahead. We are operating within a globalised economy - dive into these international markets! The world is open to your company, however small it may be, and there is sure to be a market outside Spain that is just waiting for the solutions that you can provide.

To do this, you must have a perfectly designed and structured programme, which is not something that comes about overnight. Solid policies are required for these mar-kets, taking into account potential alliances with companies that are already active in the area, possibly even the competition, which will be essential for a decisive move into the countries of your choice. None of this will happen quickly. It will require effort, commitment and a large amount of patience, but at the end of the day, if you have done your homework, you will find yourself in the perfect situation to create wealth.

This magazine is for your company, and I am as always at your disposal for any ques-tions concerning the markets from the United Arab Emirates to the USA, financing, media questions and so on. At the risk of sounding trite, the best thing in life is making friends and in this regard there is no such thing as a mere client; I am honoured to have the friends that I do, and I want to let these friends know that the success of SPAIN energy has spurred us on to create a new, yearly publication dedicated exclusi-vely to products. Some of you will already be aware of it. The concept is revolutionary, because new times bring with them new challenges and new solutions for these cha-llenges. I can assure you that I will defend the interests of the Spanish energy industry wherever I am and with whomever I am speaking, as I have done up to now.

Now come the acknowledgements. There are so many people that I have to thank that it is impossible to mention all of them here, but I am indebted to them nonethe-less. I would like to thank everyone who has invested their efforts and resources in the publication of this new issue of SPAIN energy - this is your journal, all I have done is to gather together your concerns. I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart and wish you every success in these international markets, which may be difficult to crack but are not impossible for you, with your mission of wealth creation.

To Vinyet and Ramon

The Editor

Edita > Rodríguez, Mata & Asociados S.L. · Redacción, administracióny publicidad > Rbla Guipúzcoa 48, Planta Baja. 08020 Barcelona, Spain · Tel. +34 935 330 533 · Executive Manager > José Manuel Rodríguez / [email protected] · Te-chnical Manager >Joan Garriga / [email protected] · Comercial Manager > Roberto Ayada / [email protected] · Layout&Design > Sònia Ros / [email protected] / www.soniaros.com · Impresión > IMGESA. Gràfiques del Llobregat

> EDITORIALIssue #5- june 2011

3 · INTERSOLAR – Europa & U.S.A.

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> SUMMARY

SRB

CENER

AORA SOLAR

BARCELONA KNOWLEDGE CAMPUS

INSTITUTO DE ENERGÍA SOLAR (IES)

CADMOS ENERGÍAS RENOVABLES

GADIR SOLAR

PROAT

TGB GROUP

ELECTRIA

HELIOTRACKER

ZIGOR CORPORACIÓN

GRUPO CLAVIJO

KUBERTOR

ONYX SOLAR

FUNDACIÓN JOSÉ MANUEL ENTRECANALES

Mechanical. Courtesy of Kubertor

Courtesy of Gadir Solar

On the cover

Image on left pag.

4INTERSOLAR – Europa & U.S.A. · 5 · INTERSOLAR – Europa & U.S.A.

SRB

A very popular getter solution is the so called “Barium dispenser”, consisting in the sublima-tion of Ba by heating a Ba alloy pill. The resul-ting Ba film deposited on the surrounding walls provides a chemically reactive surface to which gas molecules may stick, at least until the film is completely saturated and its pumping action is lost.

Unfortunately the saturation process is quite fast. At 10-6Torr the monolayer formation time is one second for a smooth surface. Even when assuming a much lower initial pressure and a porous surface, an important vacuum deterioration may be anticipated within weeks or months, unless the Ba film is periodically re-deposited. This is probably the reason why the performance of evacuated tubular solar panels is often reported to degrade much before the announced end of the panel life.

A different approach consists in making use of Non Evaporable Getters (NEG). In this case the surface activity may be restored by heating (see paragraph 2.3 of this report).

Heating results in diffusing the adsorbed gas molecules from the surface into the getter bulk; so restoring the getter pumping. In the case of the solar panel described in the present re-port, heating is provided by solar power. Ex-perimental evidence is available showing that NEG pumping is still available after many years of operation.

However, whatever type of getter is conside-red, it is worth recalling that its pumping capa-city is finite. Therefore the amount of gas the getter must pump should be minimised in or-der to keep the installed getter amount within reasonable limits.

This requirement implies adopting the usual Ultra High Vacuum precautions for the choice of constructions materials and for their cleanli-ness, even if the pressure requirements are not very stringent in terms of thermal losses. As a by-product of this need, the resulting pressu-re is much lower them strictly required, as it is shown in paragraph 2.7 of this report.

2. The SRB evacuated flat solar panel

2.1. Introduction

It is commonly accepted that thermal solar pa-nels may reach high temperatures only when making use of light focusing or concentration mirrors. The distinctive advantage of the SRB evacuated solar panel is that it reaches tempe-ratures higher than 300°C without the help of mirrors, so as to collect also the diffuse compo-nent of the solar light which cannot be focused. This feature is particularly important in central Europe, where diffuse light easily exceeds 50%, but it is also relevant for the best solar areas, where at least 25% of the light is diffuse.High temperatures are feasible thanks to a dras-tic reduction of the panel thermal losses due to both gas conduction/convection and infrared radiation emission. The panel is evacuated and its operating pressure is maintained to below 10-4Torr by an incorporated getter pump, while the IR radiation emission is minimized by coa-ting the light absorbers with a highly selective chromium black film of proprietary recipe.

2.2. Panel design

The standard panel consists of a metal frame to which two glass windows, facing each other, are tightly joined by soft soldering. The evacuation of the panel brings about the need of supporting the glass windows against atmospheric pressure i.e. an applied force of 10 tons per m2. For this purpose longitudinal steel spacers are interposed between the two glasses. The adopted spacers inter distance is 15cm for a glass thickness of 5mm.In order to minimize glass loss in the panel ma-nufacturing process, the adopted glass win-dow dimensions are integer submultiples of the glass panes produced by Industry (6m x 3.21m). Our choice is a width of 64cm and a length of either 3m or 2m.Over such lengths the long sides of the frame would bend if not sustained against atmosphe-ric pressure. Therefore transverse spacers are

SRB

VACUUM FOR THERMAL INSULATION

The SRB solar panel as an example

After the petrol crisis, in the 70s, an evacuated flat plate solar thermal panel was designed and developed at CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research, close to Geneva – Switzer-land). This panel, tested during 9 years outdoor in real environ-ment conditions, was patented in 2003, and an improved version is now produced industrially (since summer 2009) by Corp SRB Energy S.L. at Almussafes (Valencia, Spain).

1. Vacuum considerations

Gas molecules contained in a vessel transport heat from the warm to the cold surfaces, a pro-cess which may result in thermal losses.The heat transfer rate depends on many varia-bles, namely the molecular mean free path, the molecular mass, the accommodation factor, the vessel size and the wall temperature dis-tribution.When the pressure is progressively reduced, gas convection losses are first removed, and then the heat transport rate becomes propor-tional to the gas pressure when the molecular mean free path exceeds the size of the vessel.Since at 10-3Torr the mean free path is of the order of a few centimetres, this pressure value represents the limit at which the proportionality sets in for most vacuum systems.Above this pressure a constant value is reached at about 10-1Torr, where the gas heat conduc-tion reaches its maximum.It should be noticed that the full mechanical force is applied by the atmosphere to the ves-sel walls at this level of vacuum. Therefore the vessel could rightly be qualified as evacuated. However, little benefit is achieved in terms of thermal losses, while the constraints imposed on the vessel mechanical structure by the exter-nal atmospheric pressure are already present. In other words, the disadvantages of vacuum are there but not the advantages.The full benefits of vacuum are available when the heat transport due to molecular conduction is negligible if compared to that of other pro-cesses, namely mechanical contacts and ther-

mal radiation exchange.Both these processes must be minimised in a good vessel design, by reducing both the con-tacts and the radiation emission / absorption of the surfaces. However, the emitted radiation power increases with the fourth power of the surface temperature, therefore it becomes so important at 300°C that pressures in the 10-

4Torr range become tolerable.This situation is illustrated by fig 4, which shows how the temperature of a sample, suspended under vacuum and exposed to the full solar power, is affected by a pressure variation. The lesson of this figure is that nothing may be gai-ned by reducing the pressure below about 10-4Torr.This conclusion does not apply to other cases, when the temperatures are lower, as for instan-ce to evacuated double glazed windows. In this case the “hot” temperature does not exceed about 40°C, the radiation exchange is much lower and a pressure in the range of 10-6Torr would be required to make gas conduction a negligible source of heat loss.For cryogenic devices shielded at liquid nitro-gen temperature (about 77°K), the radiation contribution is so low that the influence of the molecular conduction is visible down to 10-8Torr range, while it would be appreciable at 10-11

Torr for the systems at liquid helium temperatu-re (about 4°K).Getter are known since more than a century, and they are now used to maintain the vacuum inside vacuum sealed devices, as electron tu-bes, clystrons, TV screens. More recently the getter use was extended also to particle acce-lerators.

SRB Energy Research SARL, c/o CERN, CH-1211 Genève 23, Switzerland

INFORMATION

INFORMATION

Phone: +0034 96 179 5694+00 41 22 767 89 77Fax: +00 34 96 179 5396 P.I. Juan Carlos IAvda de la Foia, [email protected] 46440 Almussafeswww.srbenergy.com

Cristoforo Benvenutti

Born in Milano in 1940, Cristoforo Benve-nuti graduated in Physics in 1963 with a

thesis in the field of elementary particles. He joined CERN in 1966 to work in the field of

Vacuum technology.

He was honored, in 2002, by the attribution of the “Gaede-Langmuir Award”, the most prestigious prize of the American Vacuum

Society.

AUTHOR


Calculated variation of the peak stagnation temperature as a function of the

SRB

ratio. For simplicity the IR radiation reflection by the glass was neglected in the calculation.

Figure 5

Global view of the panel a: frame with spacers;

b: absorbers with cooling pipes; c: glass windows

Figure 1

Spacer structure

Figure 2

Fixed point connection of the cooling pipe to the frame

Figure 3a

a: The pumping port and b: the bellows

Figure 3b

Variations of the absorber temperature as a function of the panel pressure and gas natu-

re. The measurements are carried out on a sample suspended inside a vacuum vessel and exposed to 1000W/m2 solar power.

Figure 4

welded on the inside of the two long frame si-des, at a distance of about 50cm from each other. These spacers, which are not in contact with the glass windows, also help centering and holding the cooling pipes welded to the black absorbers. The overall panel thickness is 42mm.

A schematic global view of the panel is shown in fig.1, while the spacer structure is shown in fig.2. The absorbers, blackened on both sides and made of copper, extend over the whole length of the panel, with a final clearance of 10/15 mm to accommodate the thermal expansion at the maximum panel temperature.

Four stainless steel cooling pipes are welded individually to the four absorbers and to the short sides of the frame at both extremities. A bellows is interposed at one side to accommo-date the thermal expansion of the pipe (see fig.3a and 3b). This straight pipe configuration will be adopted for power plant use, where a high fluid flow rate is desired to maximize the length of the panel rows.

Whenever a small size application is being con-sidered, another configuration is preferable be-cause it is simpler and provides lower thermal losses. In this case two hair-pin shaped pipes are welded each on two absorbers. The four inlet and outlet connections of these pipes are located on the same short side of the frame, so as to avoid the need of bello.

2.3. Vacuum considerations

The evacuation of the panel is mandatory to achieve high temperature. The influence of the pressure on the stagnation temperature is shown in fig.4 for a sample exposed to solar light of 900W/m2 intensity.

Fig 4 indicates that below 10-4Torr the thermal losses due to gas conduction become negli-gible.

However, the vacuum is beneficial not only for reducing the thermal losses, but also to protect the panel internal surfaces against contamina-tion and corrosion, and to extend the life of the absorber selective coating.

To maintain the vacuum over the life span of the panel (at least 20 years) a Non Evaporable Getter (NEG) is used. This approach provides the major advantage of removing the need of external pumps and vacuum piping, but impo-ses severe constraints on the panel design.NEGs have a finite pumping capacity; therefore the total gas load must be minimized by redu-cing as much as possible the pressure before NEG activation as well as the degassing of the panel components. The panel is initially pum-ped by a turbomolecular pumping station and baked at about 120°C to remove the adsorbed water vapor. All organic materials are proscri-bed because of their excessive degassing, and all internal surfaces must be cleaned according to UHV standards.NEGs do not pump rare gases, like Argon, pre-sent in the atmospheric air, and possibly ente-ring the panel through leaks. In order to avoid an accumulation of argon which would results in appreciable thermal losses over of 20 years, a maximum leak rate of ~10-8(Torr.L)/s is tole-rable.During room temperature operation the NEG surfaces are saturated by the pumped gas mo-lecules and the pumping action is lost. To avoid this inconvenience the NEG must be heated (either continuously or intermittently) to diffuse the pumped gas from the surface into the get-ter bulk. A traditional way to achieve this goal is to heat resistively the NEG using an exter-nal power supply via an electric vacuum fee-dthrough. In the present case a simpler solution was adopted, making use of the freely available solar power.

2.4. Optical requirements

Although vacuum is essential to provide an adequate thermal insulation, in order to achieve

high temperatures the panel absorbers must provide a high absorption of the solar light and a low emission in the IR range.Fig.5 shows the influence of the absortivity (α) and emissivity (ε) ratio on the panel stagnation peak temperature (1000W m-2, normal inciden-ce power, glass temperature 30°C). Since the two sides of the absorber emit, the sum of their emissivities appears in the plot. Selective coa-tings always present higher emissivity values as compared to bare copper or aluminum, there-fore only one face of the absorber is usually coated in traditional flat panel solar collectors. In our case, the panel may be exposed to sun on both sides (see par. 5 of this report), there-fore if both absorber sides are coated, while if only one side is coated.The lesson which may be extracted from fig.5 is that achieving temperatures higher than 300°C requires ratios higher than about 7, i.e. that for α=0.9, ε should not exceed 0.14, a value not so easily obtained for absorbers blackened on both sides. For one side blackening ε=0.10 could be achieved.

SRB

αε1 + ε2


SRB

Stagnation temperatures of the best and worse absorber of a panel prototype exposed to various solar power densities as indicated on the vertical axis.

Efficiency of bare panel. One side of absor-ber is blackened, ε =0.10.

Efficiency of the panel with cylindrical mirrors.

Efficiency of the panel with cylindrical and lateral mirrors.

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

SRB

Different panel configurations

Tracking system

Figure 6

Figure 7

2.5. Mirrors

The unique feature of this panel is that it may cover the whole temperature range of solar applications, from domestic water heating, to production of industrial heat and air conditio-ning at intermediate temperatures, up to the high temperatures required for the production of electricity.

However, in order to improve the panel cost effectiveness and/or its efficiency at high temperatures, non focusing mirrors may be added.

The chosen configurations are shown in fig 6.

While the cylindrical mirrors transmit to the pa-nel the direct and the diffuse light with equal efficiency, a fraction of the diffuse light reflected by the lateral mirrors in configuration 3 is lost. Therefore the concentration factor of 3, given in fig.6 for this mirror configuration, depends on the light conditions and may be worse in cloudy days

It should be noticed that configuration 3 is just one amongst the many possible mirrors choi-ces under study, of which some are characte-rized by a higher concentration factor.

For instance, a tracking system which provi-des a concentration factor of 7 was developed at Almussafes (see fig 7) and its evaluation is under way.

Bare panel mounting may be adopted for appli-cations up to 120-150°C whenever the space to accommodate the cylindrical mirrors is not available, as for instance for roof mounting. Since the mirrors are cheaper than the panel, the configuration 2 is preferable for any tempe-rature up to about 250°C. For electric power plants to be feasible a mirror configuration pro-viding a concentration factor not lower than 3 is mandatory to allow an operating temperature higher than 300°C to be adopted.

2.6. Thermal performance

The stagnation temperatures of the best and worst absorbers of a panel prototype without mirrors are shown in fig.8 as a function of the incident solar power. Since the radiation emis-sion increases with the fourth power of the ab-sorber temperature expressed in K, the linearity of T4 versus the available solar power indicates that only radiation losses are present, and that the selective coating emissivity undergoes little, if any, variation up to temperatures higher than 300°C. In this case only one side of the absor-ber was blackened.

The efficiencies of the solar panel in three diffe-rent mirror configurations, i.e. no mirrors, cylin-drical mirrors and cylindrical and lateral mirrors, are given in figs 9, 10, 11 respectively. In these figures the efficiency is plotted against the ope-rating temperature, for different values of the incident solar power.The reported curves are calculated for a glass light transmission of 0.9, α= 0.9, ε=0.17 for two sides blackening and ε=0.10 for single side blackening (quite conservative values), a black absorber covering 0.84 of the total panel aperture, and taking into account the measu-red thermal impedance between the absorber and the circulating cooling fluid (oil in this case). The mirrors efficiency is measured. Small diffe-rences between panels may occur due to the spread of the absorbers optical quality.

2.7. Vacuum performance

After panel baking and seal-off, the pressure is typically in the 10-6Torr range. During the pa-nel life, the pressure undergoes daily variations consequent to the variation of the absorbers temperature, with a superimposed long term drift resulting from the competing actions of the decrease of the panel degassing and NEG pumping speed. If the NEG pump is properly dimensioned, the panel degassing rate decrea-ses faster than the NEG pumping speed does,

6

7


SRBSRB

Time evolution of the panel pressure for various absorber temperature conditions

Figure 12

even for this application, and even more so if district heating is adopted.At the other temperature extreme, as required for the production of electricity, parabolic trough mirrors provide higher concentration factors but they cannot make use of diffuse light, a feature which imposes severe restrictions on the choice of the plant location. These restric-tions do not apply in our case because some of the possible mirror configurations we intend to adopt are very effective for diffuse light. For this reason the SRB panel is ideally suited to complement biomass/fossil fuel thermal power plants in Central Europe.More generally, the SRB panel represents the best possible choice to provide heat for indus-trial processes (120°C to 250°C), particularly in continental climate regions where most of the industrial production takes place.

2.9. Conclusions

The SRB panel fills a gap in the temperature range of the thermal solar applications, corres-ponding to the needs of industrial processes and electricity (co)generation, particularly for continental climate regions.Since summer 2009 a production plant is operational at Almussafes (close to Valencia, Spain). Presently the production rate of the pa-nel is of the order of 10 to 50 units/day, i.e. quite small if compared to the potential mar-ket needs. Accordingly, a panel cost is not yet standardized, but it is rather defined case by case on the ground of the size of the installa-tion and of its interests for SRB. Some insta-llations have already been equipped with this panel and many others are planned for 2011.

therefore in the absence of leaks the pressure decreases steadily.A typical pressure variation during the first mon-ths of panel life ranges from 10-8Torr at room temperature, to 10-6Torr above 300°C. During cold winter nights pressures below 3.10-9Torr were reached. The data recorded on a 2m long prototype are given in Fig. 12.

2.8. Applications

The described panel is very polyvalent: it may be used to produce heat at temperature requi-red by any solar energy application, from the domestic water heating to the production of electricity.

Obviously, in sunny hot countries, less sophis-ticated solar panels may be used preferably for domestic water heating, but in cold coun-tries the good thermal insulation provided by vacuum represents a competitive advantage

[1] Evacuable Flat Panel Solar Collector. PCT/EP 2004/000503 (18/08/2005).

Inventor: C.Benvenuti. Applicant: CERN,

1211Geneva23 (Switzerland).

References

[IR]: Infra Red[UHV]: Ultra High Vacuum

[NEG]: Non Evaporable Getter[(Torr.L)/s]: Flow rate

Nomenclatures


Since its creation, the Solar Thermal Energy Department at the National Renewable Energy Centre (CENER) has devoted a large part of its activities to assisting the Concentrating Solar Thermal Power (CSTP) industry. These activities may be classified into three lar-ge groups:

> Technical assistance: Technical assistance and advisory services to companies to ensure the success of commercial CSTP plant pro-jects.> R&D projects: Cooperation with companies in defining and performing R&D projects for de-veloping and improving CSTP technologies.> Strategic consulting: Strategic consulting on the CSTP technology and industry for institu-tions and companies. Total dedication to these activities includes not only the activities contracted, but also the so called Internal Development activities, which are internal R&D departmental activities orien-ted towards generating new capacities and competencies to continually update, renovate and enlarge the wide range of services and te-chnological assistance offered by the CENER Solar thermal Energy Department.In relation to the three groups of activities listed above, the capacities and most relevant con-tributions of the CENER Solar Thermal Ener-gy Department in support of the solar thermal power industry are described next.

CENER

Map of annual direct solar radiation (kWh/m2-year)

Distribution of annual direct solar radiation in Peninsular Spain, Abcissa and ordinates in pixels.

IMAGE 1

for the operation of a CSTP plant. Study of this variable is still incipient, so there is no general consensus on methods for estimating the po-tential of DNI at a site or of its uncertainty.

Often, weighted equally with other factors, the annual DNI is insufficient for one site to be se-lected over another for a CSTP plant project. This is because the power produced by an CSTP plant located at a concrete site depends on the type of plant (parabolic-trough, Fresnel, tower, dish, etc.) and on the temporal distribu-tion of the DNI on different scales (daily, mon-thly and annual).

In the last three years, CENER has assisted 38 companies with long-term potential DNI esti-mation and monitoring of solar radiation mea-surements and other meteorological variables at possible CSTP plant sites. These tasks were performed in Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Austra-lia, Chile, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Botswana and the United States. The methodology developed is based on a cli-mate study in the area, followed by application of both satellite imaging and numerical weather prediction model estimation methods. These models are validated in the study area with local radiometric or aerosol measure-ments, and in each case its specific behavior is reported.Image 1 shows an example of the result of DNI estimation in Spain based on satellite imaging.

This information is under continuous revision and updating with information from over 50 pu-blic and private meteorological stations, which are monitored and processed weekly by the Solar Thermal Energy Department.

> Basic engineering and economic feasibility studies

For the analyses and studies leading to com-mercial CSTP plant basic engineering and eco-nomic feasibility studies, the Department uses its own software tools, developed under R&D projects for, or in collaboration with, companies and validated with real data from long periods of operating latest-generation of CSTP plants. Within this category, the usual types of study done are the following three:

> Initial configuration studies, in which the solar field is defined, considering the shape, size and topography of the land available; critical matters for the technical feasibility of the site are analy-zed, such as water availability and quality, dis-tance from a grid connection point or access to transportation networks; and if applicable, an estimate of the annual electricity production of the CSTP plant is undertaken, based on the original estimation of the solar resource carried out in the energy characterization and prelimi-nary site selection stage.

LOGO

CENER

CENER

Manuel J. BlancoLourdes Ramirez

Marcelino Sánchez

Dept. of Solar Thermal EnergyNational Renewable Energy Centre-CENER

AUTHOR

Technology and knowledge at the service of the Concentrating Solar Thermal Power industry

The National Renewable Energy Centre (CENER) is an applied re-search centre of international reputation. With a staff of more than 200 highly qualified professionals, it provides R&D servi-ces worldwide in wind, thermal and photovoltaic solar energy, biomass, bioclimatic architecture and renewable energy grid in-tegration. This article summarizes CENER’s activities in the Con-centrating Solar Thermal Power field.

The main stages of a commercial CSTP de-sign, construction and operation project are the following:

> Energy characterization and preliminary site selection> Basic engineering and economic feasibility studies> Detailed engineering and closing project fi-nancing> Construction, commissioning and acceptan-ce testing> Operation optimization> Routine plant operation

In each of these stages, the CENER Solar Ther-mal Energy Department has generated compe-tencies and technologies for assisting compa-nies, ensuring the success of their projects, and thereby contributing to the consolidation of CSTP technologies as the most attractive alter-native technologies for large-scale renewable electricity generation.

Although global horizontal solar radiation has been studied for several decades, this is not the case of direct normal irradiance (DNI) which is the component of the solar radiation relevant

CENERPhone: +00 34 948 25 28 00

[email protected]

INFORMATION

Introduction Technical assistance

> Energy characterization and preliminary site selection


CENER

feasibility studies, DinaCET for detailed studies on transients in this type of power plant and Tonatiuh for simulating the energy-optical be-havior of high-concentration solar systems in general, should be mentioned.

This last program is being developed as an open source project, and is therefore freely available to anyone interested in using it.Techniques and infrastructures for component characterization include the solar collector op-tical quality field characterization techniques al-ready mentioned in other sections of this article and the solar receiver optical characterization test bed. This test bed is the only one of its kind, as it enables the optical properties of a parabolic-trough receiver tube to be determi-ned by non-destructive testing. The test bed is able to make simultaneous spectral measure-ments of transmittance and reflectance at diffe-rent absorber tube operating temperatures, in a wavelength range of 300 nm to 2500 nm.

CENER

> Configuration optimization studies, in which, based on the basic configuration determined in the initial configuration study, using CSTP plant energy behavior simulations, its design is optimized regarding mainly the size and con-figuration of the solar field and thermal stora-ge system, depending on the maximization or minimization of technical-economic indicators jointly defined with the customer.

> Feasibility study based on one or several op-timized design options, in which an economic feasibility study of the CSTP plant project is done within the framework of the legal scenario of premiums and incentives in which this pro-ject is going to be developed.

> Detailed engineering and closing project fi-nancing

In this stage of commercial CSTP plant pro-ject development, the CENER Department of Solar Thermal Energy, which has specialists in the field of solar thermal electrical technologies with long experience and recognized prestige, and its own experimentally validated compu-tational tools for simulating energy behavior of CSTP plants and for analysis and propagation of uncertainties in CSTP plant project business

models, is in a position to assist the solar ther-mal industry by:

> Advising on the definition and analysis of functional specifications and technical charac-teristics of the main components that comprise the solar thermal subsystem.

> Actively participating, along with the owner’s engineering team, in the selection of suppliers and contract negotiation.

> Integrating detailed information on energy be-havior of solar thermal equipment provided by suppliers and specified in contract warranties, into CSTP plant energy production models, and updating the estimates of the expected annual energy production of the power plant and of its uncertainty accordingly.

> Construction, commissioning and acceptan-ce testing

During this stage of the commercial CSTP plant development project, the CENER Department of Solar Thermal Energy is in a position to as-sist the solar thermal power industry by:

> Actively participating alongside the owner’s engineering team in definition, commissio-ning and acceptance testing of the main so-lar subsystem and of the whole subsystem’s components.

> Advising on overall CSTP plant energy be-havior evaluation system definition or of any of its subsystems, especially the solar thermal subsystem.

Undertake independent integral evaluation of CSTP plant functioning or of any of its subsys-tems, on different time horizons.

> Operation optimization

One of the lines in which the Department of Solar Thermal Energy has concentrated its efforts is on developing CSTP plant energy behavior simula-tion software. With these software tools, CENER is in a position to analyze the influence of control

and operating strategies on power plant ener-gy production in detail, and can optimize these strategies from a technical-economic perspecti-ve, considering the specific CSTP plant project characteristics being analyzed, applicable legis-lation, and other relevant conditions.

> Routine plant operation

Routine operation of a solar thermal power plant involves periodic testing to check that its various systems and subsystems are functio-ning properly. One of these checks is the op-tical quality of the solar collectors. CENER is able to carry out this type of analysis using a combination of photogrammetry and statisti-cal optical simulation techniques based on the Monte Carlo Method. It is also developing op-tical, thermal and mechanical characterization infrastructures for the most critical CSTP plant solar subsystem components, such as the pa-rabolic-trough collector receiver tube test bed, as described below.

R&D Projects

To date, major R&D activities in the Department of Solar Thermal Energy has concentrated on developing:

> Specialized software tools for simulating the optical and energy behavior of high-concentra-tion solar systems usually used in CSTP plants, and for economic analysis of CSTP plant pro-jects, including uncertainty analysis and pro-pagation using the Monte Carlo method and other advance statistical techniques.> Techniques and infrastructures for characte-rizing the most critical CSTP plant solar com-ponents, such as the parabolic-trough collec-tor receiver tubes and the mirrors used in the various solar thermal concentrating technolo-gies to collect and concentrate the direct com-ponent of the solar radiation.> Of the simulation tools, the SimulCET pro-grams for optimizing parabolic-trough CSTP plant configuration, operating strategies and

Graphics User Interface of SimulCET a parabolic through CSTP plant simulation tool

developed by CENER

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2Optical characterization tests in a field of parabolic-trough collectors at a commercial Spanish power plant (Acciona Energía)

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CENERCENER

Strategic advisory services

The CENER Solar Thermal Energy Department has advised companies and institutions on strategy, including:

> Participation as technological advisor in the “CSP cost roadmap 2025” study by A.T. Kear-ney for ESTELA, the European Solar Thermal Power Industry Association.

> Participation as authors, in cooperation with IDOM and AICIA, in the report on Evaluation of the Potential of the Spanish Solar Thermal Elec-tric Area for the recent 2020 Renewable Energy Plan (PER) made for the Institute for Diversifica-tion and Saving of Energy (IDAE) of the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade.

> Participation as technological advisor on se-veral different tasks done by a consortium of companies for the World Bank studying the de-velopment potential of the solar thermal power industry in India.

> Several studies on the state of the art and the current situation of solar thermal techno-logies for electricity generation and on the so-lar thermal power industry for large European companies in the power industry interested in placing themselves in a strategic position in this sector.

Furthermore, the CENER Department of Solar Thermal Energy directs its activities at suppor-ting solar thermal power industry development, from technical assistance suitable for ensu-ring the proper development and success of commercial CSTP plant projects to strategic advising, and assistance and collaboration in defining R&D projects leading to improvements making the solar thermal electricity generation technologies more economical and equitable with conventional technologies, and helping to create this industry in the least time possible.

Conclusions

As reflected throughout this article, CENER Solar Thermal Energy Department activities are directed at supporting the development of the solar thermal power industry, from techni-cal assistance suitable for ensuring the proper development and success of commercial solar thermal power plant projects, to strategic ad-visory services. It also provides support and collaboration in defining R&D projects leading to improved and increasingly more economical solar thermal power production, and the con-solidation of this industry worldwide in the least time possible.

Thermal characterization test bench, infrared uniformity study.

Image of the solar receiver optical characterization test bench

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5Solar receiver thermal characterization mea-surements and infrared uniformity study.

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plants operating in isolation.From the moment a customer is interested, AORA SOLAR offers personalized advise in its search for energy efficient solutions and additio-nal applications of its technology. Such advise is extended as soon as the customer decides to build a plant, as AORA’s team tracks the ad-ministrative, construction, commissioning and subsequent maintenance process. To comple-ment this comprehensive care, AORA SOLAR also provides funding search services for the development of new projects.

The future

In the short term, AORA SOLAR has pending the commissioning of the R&D plant in the PSA, in which improvements and innovations will be tested and which will serve as a show plant, as well as other commercial facilities and show plants in Mexico, Colombia and the United Sta-tes. In the medium term, due to the size of the project and the required administrative proce-dures, the company will develop a 100 MW project in Arizona (USA).

Web: www.aorasolar.esE-mail: [email protected]

Phone: +00 34 956 695 297Fax: +00 34 956 79 46 78

INFORMATION:

AORA SOLARAORA SOLAR

AORA SOLAR, A NEW CONCEPT OF SOLAR THERMAL PLANT

Javier Muñoz Durán

Chief Technology OfficerAORA SOLAR Spain

AUTHOR

Introducing hybrid 100 kW plants

The group AORA SOLAR offers a technology with important di-fferences from the existing solar thermal technologies, as it has 100 kWe modular plants which can be connected to the grid or operate in isolation; they work with a turbine that uses both so-lar radiation and fuel; and the surplus 170 kWth can be used for heating, DHW, cooling or desalination.

> The key to AORA’s technology is in the modified gas turbine it uses >

The exploitation of solar energy by solar thermal plants is having a boom today, mainly in Spain and the United States. Most of these projects employ parabolic-trough or central (tower) re-ceivers that operate with fluids at 400 ºC and are generally large plants –50 MW minimum—, as they need to optimize the use of large steam turbines. Therefore, they take up large expan-ses of land and require high water consump-tion. In this regard, aspects such as modularity, hybridization or the use of plants not only to meet electricity demand but also requirements of domestic hot water (DHW) or cooling can’t be addressed by them. And here is where AORA SOLAR makes the difference, introducing in the market a new concept of solar thermal plant.

The key to AORA’s technology is in the gas turbine it uses, which simultaneously produ-ces 100 kW of electricity and 170 kW thermal (heat). Some modifications have been made to this turbine to make it hybrid, i.e., with the pos-sibility of working both with solar energy and conventional fuels.

The process is as follows: the heliostats field concentrates sunlight on the receiver located on top of the tower, which also houses the tur-bine. Then, the receiver transfers the energy of this radiation to the air circulating inside, making it reach temperatures of 950 ºC. After passing to the turbine, the air expands, allowing the ge-nerator to produce electricity, which then flows to the grid or is used directly. When solar ra-diation is not enough for the air to reach the working temperature, fuel can be injected into the combustion chamber (diesel, gas, biogas, etc.) and even in the absence of radiation, the turbine can operate only with fuel. Finally, gene-rated thermal kilowatts can be used in proces-ses involving heat, such as drying, desalination, absorption cooling, heating, etc. (This is called “cogeneration”).

The group

AORA SOLAR group includes two compa-nies with different geographical origins: AORA SOLAR Israel, established in 2007 after more than a decade of collaboration between its parent company, E.D.I.G., and the Weizmann Research Institute; and AORA SOLAR Spain, founded in 2009 with the purpose of managing

the global marketing of the technology, whose patent rights AORA SOLAR holds by agree-ment between the Weizmann Institute, E.D.I.G., AORA SOLAR Israel and AORA SOLAR Spain.In June 2009, AORA SOLAR’s first commer-cial plant began operating at Kibbutz Samar, Southeast of Israel, designed as a result of the experience acquired by the test unit created by E.D.I.G. in China in 2006 with the cooperation of the Weizmann Institute and the University of Nanjing. Using this design as a basis, the com-pany is now building a new advanced proto-type that will be the next generation of AORA SOLAR’s plants in the Solar Platform of Almeria (PSA, in Spanish) and in Israel.With these pilot plants, the company focuses its efforts on R&D work, especially in two areas: improving its technology and developing addi-tional applications to use the surplus heat ge-nerated.

Tailored solutions

AORA SOLAR’s technology can meet a wide range of clients, from those who don’t want to make a major investment to enter the solar thermal power-production market, so they may have an installation of only 100 kW; to custo-mers who want to develop large solar thermal plants of the order of megawatts (MW) or those who, in addition to producing electricity, need to produce thermal energy for use in heating, DHW, cooling or desalination. AORA SOLAR can also satisfy customers who demand solar thermal plants that can operate 24 hours a day without being connected to the grid, or power

> AORA SOLAR’s technology can meet a wide range of clients >


BARCELONA KNOWLEDGE CAMPUS

PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR ENERGY AT BARCELONA KNOWLEDGE CAMPUS

Novel textures developed by the GES by combining micro- and nano- structures, aimed at improving sun light absorption

within solar cells as a means of increasing conversion efficiency.

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http://bkc.ub.upc.edu/http://www.ub.edu/in2ub/

http://www.ub.edu/ges/http://webmnt.upc.es/

INFORMATION

Research in photovoltaics

The Barcelona Knowledge Campus (BKC) is a joint venture bet-ween the University of Barcelona (UB) and the Technical Univer-sity of Catalonia (UPC), aimed at promoting high-quality edu-cation, research, innovation and technology transfer in one of Barcelona’s main thoroughfares: the Pedralbes Campus.

The BKC has a recognized international status of excellence in a variety of research fields and encompasses a number of research Institu-tes and groups. Among them, the Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology of the UB (IN2UB) and the Centre of Research in NanoEn-gineering (CRnE) of the UPC carry out research and development activities related to photovol-taic-energy generation.

The Solar Energy Group (GES) of the UB, which belongs to the IN2UB, and the Micro and Nano

Technologies (MNT) of the UPC, which also takes part of the activities of the CRnE, are the main actors in research on photovoltaic ener-gy in BKC. Both groups count with the most outstanding choice of researchers in the field of photovoltaic-energy applications within the BKC and are members of the Reference Network in Advanced Materials for Energy (XaRMAE). The UPC is also a partner in The European Institute of Technology’s Knowledge Innovation Centre in Energy –EIT KIC InnoEnergy– through the Iberia Centre placed in Barcelona.

The GES is mainly investigating new technolo-gies for photovoltaic modules based on silicon thin films. In particular, they are developing mo-dules based on either p-i-n structures of amor-phous and microcrystalline silicon or silicon hetero-junctions for solar cells.

The group is also working in the develop-ment of hot wire chemical vapour deposition (HWCVD) for silicon-based materials in order to achieve high uniformity on large areas at de-position rates higher than 2 nm/s. The group is planning to transfer new achievements in HWCVD technologies to industry. Studies in the field of transparent conducting oxides and light confinement strategies, with applications in silicon thin films for solar cells, are being also carried out.

The MNT is focused on the research of advan-ced solar cells with two general goals: increasing the conversion efficiency and reducing the pro-duction cost. In particular, the group is working in the development of hetero-junction solar cells, crystalline silicon solar cells, small-molecule-ba-sed organic solar cells and materials for interme-diate-band solar cells. Recently, the group has succeeded in producing crystalline silicon cells with conversion efficiency up to 20.5 %, which result is a breakthrough in this field.

The GES and MNT usually take part together in European research projects and collaborate tightly in several national projects that involve outstanding companies in the PV sector.

UNIVERSITAT DE BARCELONA

Laser processed crystalline silicon solar cells with 20.5 % solar conversion efficiency.

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HWCVD technology to attain µc-Si:H large-area deposition at high rates

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INSTITUTO DE ENERGÍA SOLAR (IES)INSTITUTO DE ENERGÍA SOLAR (IES)

Carlos del Cañizo is Engineer in Telecom-munications, and has been involved in Pho-tovoltaics since 1994. He received the PhD degree from the Universidad Politécnica de

Madrid in 2000, and is currently working on silicon solar cell fabrication and characte-rization. He is currently the Director of the

Instituto de Energía Solar from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, and the responsible person of the Silicon Technology Program-

me of the institute.

AUTHOR

Instituto de Energía Solar Avda. de la Complutense, 3028040 Madrid

Tel.: +00 34 91 544 1060 Fax: +00 34 91 544 6341

[email protected]

INFORMATION

INSTITUTO DE ENERGÍA SOLAR (IES)

Inspiring PV since 1979

Follower of a collaborative research philosophy, during its more than 30 years of history, the Institute has coordinated multitude of projects of great impact and range regarding either goals, size and funding. Some of these projects have been considered by USA and Japan as a source of inspiration in the implementation of their own R&D strategies. The European Commission has also classified them as a clear example of success.

Research for generating disruptive ideas, in-novation for industrial and encouragement of its human capital to assist in the deployment and penetration of renewable energies in the 21st century society, have been and still are the keys turning up the IES into the first Re-search Institute in the UPM as well as a world reference centre.

The Institute comprises 6 R&D groups: Photo-voltaic Systems, Silicon Technology, Systems and Instruments Integration, III-V Semiconduc-tors, Fundamental Studies and Quantum Me-chanics. Nowadays, around 20 professors, 35 PhD students and 10 administrative and tech-nical staff are employed at IES.

Photovoltaic Systems

The main activity of this line of work consists on supporting photovoltaic plants by means of their monitoring and measurement. Star-ting from a background of observations and collected data, this group is able to develop new measurement methods and working tools. New theories are also provided so to allow fee-dback to the R&D chain.

This line also focuses on the necessary tech-nology transfer for the implementation of pho-tovoltaic systems in fields such as edification or rural electrification.

Silicon Technology

This activity was in the past one of the main cores of the Institute, and the origin of ISOFO-TON, a company created in the 80s, and is still looking for improvements in the solar cells fabrication processes to reach both efficiency increase and cost reduction.

Today, the most relevant work undertaken by this line is the creation of CENTESIL (Centro de Tecnología del Silicio Solar), participated besides UPM by Universidad Complutense de Madrid and the companies DCWafers, Isofotón and Técnicas Reunidas. Is a unique researchcentre worldwide in the field of silicon ultrapu-rification for photovoltaic applications, which is building a 50 t/a pilot plant to produce “solar silicon” via the chlorosilane route.

Systems and Instruments Inte-gration

Concentrating systems are the alternative to flat panels, overall for those applications whe-re high efficiency solar cells can be used in a more profitable way.

It is worth saying that IES has been one of the seeds for a market’s deployment, that one decade ago was empty; in particular, IES has

inspired the creation, and leads the scientific sponsorship of the Photovoltaic Concentration Systems Institute (ISFOC) in Puertollano. Once the market is running, the concentration tech-nology progress involves the development of measurement equipments and instruments for characterizing the concentration modules, and it is here where our efforts are focused.

III-V semiconductors

Research and development of multijunction solar cells for working at high concentration le-vels (1000 suns), is an important effort for re-ducing costs and improving PV performance. The IES was the place where the first solar cell able to operate in an efficient way (>26%) over 1000 suns was made in the 90s. Recently, two junction solar cells have been fabricated with a world record efficiency of 32.6% at 1000 suns, and for the near future the objective is to reach efficiencies over 40%.

Fundamental Studies

In 1997 the group invented and patented the intermediate band solar cell. In these cells there is a new band between the valence band and conduction band. Thus, photons with energy lower than the forbidden band are able to pro-

mote electron transitions from the valence band to the conduction band. Thanks to this additio-nal absorption, the thermodynamical efficiency limit of this technology reaches 63.2%.

Since then, this group has been working on the search for new intermediate band materials and its fabrication process development, which constitutes a key research in this field. To this aim the IBLAB, the world’s first laboratory cer-tified by the ISO9001, has been equipped for their characterization.

Quantum Mechanics

The main objective of this line is the determi-nation, by means of theoretical calculation procedures, of both structural and electronic characteristics of semiconductor material with optoelectronic properties, improved for their use in photovoltaic solar cells.

IES is currently, collaborating in R&D activities with more than 50 partners around the world. They are mainly Universities, Research Institutes, Compa-nies and Public Bodies. IES publishes around 30 papers per year, 40 contributions to internatio-nal conferences, 15 invited conferences. It also participates in several international committees, and leads, together with the Departamento de Electrónica Física of UPM a Program of Doctoral Courses and a Master in Solar Energy

Instituto de Energía Solar.

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Gadir Solar rooftop.

Cañamero, Cáceres (Spain)

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5) OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

> Cadmos, through its O&M division, services the solar plants it develops, with Operation and Maintenance services. The presence of Cadmos in this value added activity allows it to apply efficiency increase measures to its ope-rating solar plants as well as to new projects being developed.

PROJECT DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE.INTERNATIONAL PIPELINE

Cadmos designs and develops PV generation plants worldwide, including ground-mounted and rooftop facilities and soon via building in-tegration. The Company gets involved from the beginning, managing the permitting process, adapting projects to the site-driven technical and electrical specifications and managing the construction and start-up of the plants in order to rationalize timing, costs and resources, as required. At present the Company has projects in progress in Spain, Italy, France, the US and Chile and has identified business opportunities in Brazil, Turkey, Mexico, South Africa, Kenya and India. The Development, Construction and Operation Unit generate revenue by the development, construction and operation and subsequent sale of PV projects to third parties within a ti-meframe of approx. 2 years. Cadmos´ solar power plant development pipeli-ne raise up to 500 MWp and growing, with over 150MWp construction starts by end of 2011.



Jaime Parga - Marketing Manager Phone: +00 34 956 013 930

[email protected] www.cadmos.es

Cadmos Energías Renovables, S.L. Velázquez, 19 - 2º dcha.

28001 Madrid

Phone: +00 34 [email protected]

AUTHOR

INFORMATION

Innovation and R&D

Cadmos Energías Renovables is a high growth company dedica-ted to generate electricity from the sun at a competitive cost.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Cadmos Energías Renovables is a high growth company dedicated to generate electricity from the sun at a competitive cost. Cadmos is fully integrated in the Photovoltaic value chain as a manufacturer of the latest technology of solar panels, inverters and other electrical compo-nents, and as a project developer: designing, building, operating and maintaining solar ener-gy plants on a utility scale as well as rooftop (re-sidential, commercial, industrial and agricultu-ral) and BIPV (Building Integrated Photovoltaic) solutions. Innovation and R&D make up the heart of the organization facilitating continuous improve-ment of its activities throughout the value chain with a set target of developing solar energy pro-jects at a competitive cost.

CADMOS ACTIVITIES

1) MANUFACTURING: GADIR SOLAR

> Gadir Solar, the manufacturing branch of Cadmos Energías Renovables, is an Amor-phous Thin Film solar module manufacturing plant located in Cadiz (South West of Spain) operating since 2009, under an automated production line utilizing state-of-the-art Oerlikon (Swiss) technology

> Annual production capacity of the facility is more than 40 MW with an average power of 90Wp per module. As a result of the techno-logical improvements that will be implemented during 2011, the estimated annual production will be more than 50MW per year, with an ave-rage power of 100Wp per module.

> Gadir Solar modules have obtained IEC

61646 and 61730 certifications, as well as UL Certification (UL 1703, 3rd edition (UL) USA, ULC/Ord-C1703-01, 1st edition) and MCS (PV0066 1st edition).

2) RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT & INNOVATION

> Gadir Solar benefits from an internal R&D and Innovation Center as well as partnerships with key reputable institutions such as: Neuchatel University (Switzerland), Institute for Solar Stu-dies (Spain) and University of Cadiz (Spain). Our R&D team works on the design of cabling and electronic elements that better adapt to each project in order to develop optimal photovoltaic solar system solutions.

3) PROMOTION, CONSTRUCTION & OPERATION

> Cadmos designs and develops photovol-taic generation plants worldwide, both ground parks and roof installations. The Company ope-rates from the beginning in the management of administrative authorizations, by adapting the project to the technical requirements and elec-trical implant site, and managing the construc-tion and operation to optimize time, cost and resources as the installation requires.

4) BUILDING INTEGRATED PHOTOVOLTAICS (BIPV)

> Cadmos, through its French subsidiary ECO-TEMIS will develop Thin Film solutions for archi-tectural integration, developing systems which substitute conventional construction materials for PV materials. The result are custom made solutions (playing with shapes, colors and transparency) serving the efficient buildings of today and tomorrow.

MAIN OPERATING PROJECTS

> TECNOHUERTAS Located in Sevilla and Cá-diz (Spain), with 7.2 Mwp installed capacity. Began operations in October 2008.

> GADIR SOLAR ROOFTOP, located in Cádiz (Spain), with 0.45 Mwp installed capacity. Be-gan operations in November 2010. Gadir Solar Thin Film Panels.

> ALGARROBOS, located in Villamartín, Cádiz (Spain), with 6.5 MWp installed capacity. Be-gan operations in June 2010. Gadir Solar Thin Film Panels.

> THARSIS, located in Alosno, Huelva (Spain), with 2.1 MWp installed capacity. Began opera-tions in November 2010. Gadir Solar Thin Film Panels.

> LO ILLAN, TURBINTO AND CONTRERAS lo-cated in Murcia (Spain), 3 parks with 8.6 MWp installed capacity. Began operations in May 2011.

> CAÑAMERO located in Cañamero, Cáceres (Spain), with 6.2 MWp installed capacity. Be-gins operations in June 2011. Gadir Solar Thin Film Panels.

> RODRIGUEZ I AND RODRIGUEZ II, located in Murcia (Spain) with 4 MWp installed capaci-ty. Begins operations in July 2011. Gadir Solar Thin Film Panels.

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GADIR SOLAR

Voltage-current curve

Robot loading/unloading Pecvd equipment

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> Higher power output (kWh) per unit of insta-lled capacity (kWp): due to its low temperature coefficient and high performance in weak sun-light.

As a result of specific features of a-Si modules, such as a lower efficiency loss coefficient and better capacity of diffuse radiation absorption, Gadir Solar panels are optimal for ground-mounted parks in warm or hot climates and rooftop facilities that do not boast the ideal orientation with respect to the sun.In addition, the characteristics of this tech-nology make it best suited to adaptation for building integration uses, as the modules are essentially ‘crystal’ which in addition to genera-ting electricity can be used as windows, walls, roofs, facades, etc, thereby enabling replace-ment of traditional construction materials and elements.Gadir Solar modules have obtained IEC 61646 and 61730 certifications, as well as UL Certi-fication (UL 1703, 3rd edition (UL) USA, ULC/Ord-C1703-01, 1st edition) and MCS (PV0066 1st edition).

PRODUCTION PROCESS

The module productive process at Gadir So-lar entails a production chain which is almost fully automated; only a few loading and un-loading operations are done hand made. The key stages of the productive process are the following:

> 1. Deposition of conductive and semi-con-ductive materials: Deposition of the back con-ductors by means of the so-called LPCVD pro-cess. Deposition of the semi-conductive layers by means of the so-called PECVD process.

> 2. Laser cutting: three cuts are made in the course of the productive process. By means of laser patterning, the production line separates the surface area of the conductive module into difference cells.> 3. Encapsulation: once the PV module has the various levels it requires, the last step is to insulate these layers from the exterior, by sub-jection to different pressure and temperature conditions to achieve optimal sealing.

GADIR SOLAR

GADIR SOLAR

Jaime PargaMarketing Manager

Phone: +00 34 956 013 930 [email protected]

www.gadirsolar.es

Gadir Solar, S.A.Pol. Ind. El Trocadero.

Calle Francia, 1111519 Puerto Real, Spain

[email protected]

Operator at pecvd process

INFORMATION

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The latest generation of solar modules

Gadir Solar, the manufacturing business unit of Cadmos Ener-gías Renovables, is a PV Thin Film module manufacturing utility situated in Puerto Real, Cadiz, in a strategic logistic center for maritime transport around the world. Its technological partner is the Swiss Company, Oerlikon Solar, Ltd.

Gadir Solar is operating since October 2009 and has a production line of more than 40 MW/year, with an average of 90 Wp per module. With ongoing technological improvements, in 2011 is expected to reach annual production volume of 50 MW per year, with an average power 100 Wp per module.

The continuous investments on R&D by Gadir Solar make it possible to have a competitive module price. This is achieved through the cost efficiency structure only possible in fully vertically integrated companies.The core business activity at the Gadir Solar

plant is the manufacture of amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin-film PV modules, targeted at a range of facilities and clients based on applications developed through the R&D effort: Gadir Solar produces thin-film PV modules using modern te-chnology based on plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) developed by Swiss company Oerlikon, whose technology boasts se-veral advantages with respect to the alternatives:

> More efficient use of silicon: it uses 99% less silicon, which results in a significantly lower energy return factor on the panels produced relative to any other technology.

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GADIR SOLAR

Quality control

GADIR SOLAR

(1) The parameters represent best current knowledge and are indicative. Guarantee is given on STC: 1000 W/m2; AM=1,5; T=25ºC.

(2) Pmpp Tolerance ±2,5 Wp. • UL certification pending

Gadir Solar frameless module dimensions

GADIR SOLAR MODULE ESPECIFICATIONS

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GADIR SOLAR MODULES

The GADIR a-SiR solar module is manufactured with amorphous silicon using state-of-the art manufacturing techniques, which offer strong competitive advantages over other technolo-gies.

Cost efficient> Thin film amorphous module’s manufacturing process requires significantly less energy Input and 99% less silicon compared to crystalline modules. This lower cost per unit produced, combined with a higher energy return on ener-gy Invested, translates Into a faster payback time.

Higher energy yield> Due to its low temperature coefficient, and a better yield on non tilted Installations and in diffuse light conditions, amorphous silicon mo-

dules outperform other modules by generating more energy per installed unit power.This module is therefore suited for all climatic regions especially for warmer even if the orien-tation Is not optimal. Apart from its other streng-ths, its esthetical design allows it to perfectly adapt as a building integrated photovoltaic so-lution.

The GADIR a-SIR module is manufactured un-der stringent quality controls. Production takes place in a highly modern factory using an inte-grated automated production line from leading Swiss Oerllkon Solar. The technology is based on the plasmatic deposition of a fine amor-phous silicon layer.

Warranties> 5 years warranty against materials/manufactu-ring defects. Power warranty: 90% of nominal power for the first 10 years and 80% for the next 15 years, according to warranty terms.

Gadir Solar factory

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Photovoltaic Equipment

FAC3/1000/C - Insulation Monitor Device>It is a device that detects faulty ground indi-cating that there is danger. Voltage until 1000 VDC. Has a reset function that restores energy production if the isolation fault has been spo-radic and has disappeared (if humidity early in the morning).

FAT and FATH - Monitoring for photovoltaic pa-nels connected to ground.>When you use panels PV thin film. You must connect the positive or negative to ground, otherwise such the modules lose its effecti-veness over time. These installations are not isolated from ground and its necessary use an equipment to detect any leak. The FAT is sui-table for installations up to 5kW, and FATH for over 5kW. Act in ways that measure a leakage current greater than 300mA, and disconnect the ground of the installation. It cut the leaka-ge current. The FATH is based on Hall Effect sensor to measure the intensity. Have reset function.

MED and MED5 - Current and Voltage Meters>The MED and MED5 are devices used to mo-nitor the photovoltaic system. The current mea-sured by Hall Effect sensors on each branch and the output voltage of the strings are sen-ding via the communication channel RS-485, with MoBus-RTU protocol. Operating in slave mode, sending information to a waster device

who sends the information by GPS or GPRS. MED measures intensity and a voltage. MED5 measures five intensities and a voltage.

PRMEDC - Meters current or voltage with output 4-20mA >Equipaments teams to monitoring the intensity and voltage of a photovoltaic system, the output is 4-20mA, which is insensitive to disturbances. These signals can be carried away to the master that centralizes all system parameters.

NIPS and NINFAC - DC switches>These devices, in case of failure of insulation, shortcut the voltage of the panels, and connec-ting the shortcut to ground. DC voltage beco-mes zero volts and there is no danger of elec-trocution. The short-circuit of a photovoltaic system is the nominal plus a 10%. The NINFAC are manufactured for intensities of 20, 50, 80 and 120 Amps, NIPS model up to 300 amps of short circuit current.

Integrated Module NMI >It is a combination of an Insulation Monitoring FAC3 or FAT, if the installation is isolated from ground or not, and a DC switch, NINFAC type, they are interconnected in the same box.

MC Compact Module >For small installations <10 kW, the MC has the dual role of isolation monitoring and DC switch.

BSF-5 >A device that controls the individual DC swit-ches located on each string, so that in case of failure of insulation, the BSF-5 finds that string has caused the failure.

PVO Box >Special device to connect thin-film photovoltaic systems that they are degraded. This requires the device to connect the PVO, which genera-tes a reverse voltage of low power. This signal

must connect at night for a period of 20 days. PVO Box makes the next maneuver. Evening separates the inverter from the thin-film panels and they are connected to the PVO signal. In the morning, removes the signal PVO and con-nects the panels to the inverter.

CONTIR - Connector of ground terminal>This device connects the ground signal to isolation monitoring FAC3. When the inverter, who already has internal control isolation, is launched.

Protective equipament for photovoltaic

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PROAT

PROAT: A COMPANY WITH FUTURE VISION

We develop equipment for railways, electricity and renewable ener-gy. Within the renewable sector, we highlight the FAC3: Insulation Monitor and NINFAC: Switches for photovoltaic installations.

Created in 2003, with only one goal, to design and build equipment to meet changing mar-ket needs.

INFORMATION

PROAT S.L. P.I. Can Tapioles

C/ Narcis Monturiol 4, nave 10 08110 Montcada i Reixac

Barcelona, Spain Phone: +34 935790610

Fax: +34 [email protected]

www.proat.es

PROAT


TGB GROUP

TGB GROUP: DAD-8-659-570

C/ L’Alsina, Parcela 37 - Nave 3Polígono Industrial “La Masíia”

08798 Sant Cugat SesgarriguesBarcelona - Spain

Phone +00 34 938 182 450Fax. +00 34 938 920 781

[email protected]

INFORMATION

Compact slew drive designed for CSP and CPV solar trackers.

Focused in the emerging market of the energy production in the CSP and CPV solar plants, TGB Group has designed and produced the DAD-8-659-570, a dual axis slew drive able to bear high loads and torques in its movement.

DAD-8-659-570 has been created as a result of a large experience achieved by TGB Group after years working with the most important companies in the solar energy sector. In this way, TGB Group has always been innovating and designing specific products to solve the needs of this field.

The DAD-8-659-570 is mainly the union of two slew drives of huge dimensions, which housing and components have been designed in order to resist high solicitations. Furthermore, this product has a high accuracy and low backlash, indispensable aspects in its application.The slew drive responsible of the azimuthal ro-tation is like a standard model of slew drive, but the main innovation lays in the slew drive that performs the zenithal rotation.Zenithal slew drive has a double circular bolted holes pattern in each side, allowing the cus-tomer to attach structure components of the tracker to it easily. These structure components are attached to the inner ring of the slewing ring, a slewing ring with a new and unique design where the inner ring is connected to the worm gear and has a double side of bolts pattern. Thereby, there is a perfect alignment and coordination between the rotation of each side of the solar tracker structure.

Two external rings are the responsible of the rotation alignment and the transmission of the loads to the structure of the slew drive. Another advantage of this product is that it ro-tates as an only-one component, because in the azimuthal rotation the whole housing rota-tes with the superior slew drive. If we add to this fact that the DAD-8-659-570 has a hole in the

zenithal housing, it makes impossible to have problems with the motor and encoder wires.

DAD-8-659-570 has low backlash, high accu-racy and a perfect alignment between the rota-tion of each side of the solar tracker structure.

DAD-8-659-570 is also a versatile product, due to its design; the customer is able to atta-ch a wide range of structures with customizable flanges. In addition, this dual axis slew drive is perfectly watertight and has the grease extrac-tion patented by TGBgroup, minimizing unne-cessary costs.

> DAD-8-659-570 has low backlash, high ac-curacy and a perfect alignment between the rotation of each side of the solar tracker structure >

ELECTRIA

ELECTRIA

Compañía Eléctrica para el Desarrollo Sostenible S.A.Electria 2008 15-20C/ Zurbarán, 20 Bajo Drcha28010 Madrid (España)

Phone: +00 34 911 426 390+00 34 911 836 540

[email protected]

IINFORMATION

Power is wherever you are

Energy is the key factor for development, making technological innovation and industrial development the centre of attention, while at the same time betting for a new model of production and energy distribution. Europe could become the world leader in the globalization of decentralized electrification model based on self-consumption and Renewable Energies, promoting sus-tainable development, combating climate change and poverty in particular with solar energy as a modern, friendly and compro-mised technology.

Who is ELECTRIA

ELECTRIA was constituted at the end of 2008, as an initiative of a group of professio-nals who have developed their careers within the world of Renewable Energy. Electria was born with the purpose and commitment to contribute to the development of a new energy model build around Renewable Energies as the foundation and based on distributed, decentra-lized and sustainable energy production. Elec-tria is committed in new energy solutions that provide access to electricity in an efficient way and economically viable.

With solar energy, and medium/small wind energy solutions as the core technologies of Electria, which are sustained on a firm com-mitment towards R&D, Electria’s technological and industrial models are based in creating its own R&D technological platform, while deve-loping industrial capacity. Among the R&D pro-jects currently underway include:

> Research and development of wind energy turbines of small and medium power.

> Implementation of a photovoltaic and wind turbine blades recycling plant (Project PVR3).

> Impact of photovoltaic generation in electric network connections (ATON Project). Smart grids.

ELECTRIA in ATON Project

Within the ATON Project, Electria is responsible for the activity devoted to the study of the im-pact of photovoltaic generation in electric net-work connections.

Electria works together with the Technological Centre CARTIF with the aim to test and valida-te the behavior of thin film photovoltaic modu-les connected to the grid. The objective is to characterize and quantify the impact of the connection, ensuring its adaptation to existing standards related to electricity supply quality. Also, this task will evaluate potential improve-ments that may occur in the network, according to the characteristics of the connection and operation.

The massive deployment of this type of electric generation requires an intelligent and interac-tive infrastructure, capable of integrating the new technologies within the distribution sys-tem. The penetration and speed to achieve this progress, depends on interoperable nor-mative advances, telemetry capacity, acquisi-tion of real time data and dynamic power ma-nagement.

The project, in addition to addressing the areas of research in the manufacture of thin film cells, wants to demonstrate that electrici-ty will be fully compatible with low-voltage power grids supply that currently exist, and could help improve the quality of that supply.R&D Department.


HELIOTRACKER

HELIOTRACKER

Heliotracker Ctra. Pamplona Salinas 11 31191 Esquíroz - Navarra (Spain)

Phone: +00 34 948 853 099 Fax. +00 34 948 853 078 M: +00 34 608 486 487

www.heliosolar.com

Fernando Jiménez – Heliotracker [email protected]

Susana Lizarraga – Chief Engineering Officier – [email protected]

INFORMATION

The simplestructured solar trackerwill reduce the assembly, civil workand maintenance costs.

HELIOTRACKER

HELIOTRACKER® INNOVA

Heliotracker® Innova emerged from Heliosolar’s need of having a solar Tracker of its own for its solar parks with the maximum production and operation warranties.

The solar Tracker Heliotracker® Innova is the result of the perfect coordination between the I+D+I department and HELIOSOLAR O&M; who based on their experience gained from the maintenance of solar parks using diff erent kinds of technologies, found the solution to all the problems arisen there.

The creation of this adjustable one axis Tracker guarantees the availability of a simple, strong

and reliable machine with high-level technical features in control, surveillance and plant ad-ministration. It guarantees the highest perfor-mance of all the solar installations during all the hours of solar Light.

FUNCTIONAL ADVANTAGES

> Modularity. It is composed by groups of mecano-welded structures containing six modules in horizontal which are moved by one axis rotation. It can also be composed by 16 to 40 structural mo-dules, depending on the land and the module-inverter confi guration to avoid group and wiring divisions.

> East-west polar Tracking system with a ±50° angle. It has a tracking system with backtracking which minimizes the shading eff ect.

> Production increase of at least 20% compa-red to 30º fi xed structure systems, with only 30% more occupancy.

> Quick and easy assembly during the civil works. All the welded joints are made at the works-hops, leaving for civil works just the screwed joints. The modules are set at 0,3 m (minimum height) and at 2,3 m (maximum height), to avoid the use of scaff olding and special machinery. The simplicity of the structure allows a quick assembly and a simple foundation.

> Maintenance cost reductions. Each tracker has a single 0,37 Kw lineal ac-tuator, that minimizes the possibilities of failure. There is no need of special elevation machinery for the maintenance of modules, so this implies a cost reduction.

> Strength in the design, it withstands the most adverse operation conditions. The calculations have been done meeting EUROCODES and lo-cal regulations in force.

STRUCTURE

Its structure has been made entirely of hot di-pped galvanized steel; it has been designed to withstand the hardest constant weather con-ditions

CONTROL SYSTEM

Heliotracker® Innova tracking system is based in a high-precision microprocessor with a bac-ktracking algorithm implemented in each con-troller. This algorithm starts working to avoid the sha-dow projection during the fi rst morning hours and the last afternoon hours, time of the day when these increase.

Each tracker is controlled by a last generation controller (PLC) and they are connected to each other via TCPIP protocol (Ethernet).

The SUNTRACK® control system developed by Heliotracker, performs all the maintenance procedures typical of a technical office:

> Self-management of events and alarms

> Warning in case of need for service.

> Self-control of Incidences

> Self-control of electrical component deterio-ration

> Intelligent positioning against wind alarms.


Founded in Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spain) in January 1998, ZIGOR has always followed a strategy of continuous growth and technological de-velopment. Its R & D Department carried out the design of innovative products, always ba-sed on the latest technologies in electronics. Over this period a comprehensive portfolio of products has been developed for Telecom, Uti-lities, Railway, IT and Renewable among others markets.

Our latest outstanding developments for power quality and renewable have open new markets and opportunities in our global market strategy, namely:

Power Quality

SET DVR: An innovative, Voltage sag compen-sation systems for industrial applications. Our storage less Dynamic Voltage Restorer is able to maintain a constant operating voltage for in-put voltages very wide range of input variations, with voltages drops up to 50%. One of the star projects at ZIGOR has been the development and production of a 2.3 MW power SET DVR in medium voltage (6.6 kV) to immunise against power surges the facility that the multinational AIR LIQUIDE has at Tarragona to supply hydro-gen to the REPSOL refinery. This project is a collaboration between ZIGOR, ENDESA, AIR LIQUIDE and REPSOL

SEPEC: High Power Industrial UPS systems (200KW - 1.2 MW) with high efficiency, 99,5%.

ZIGOR CORPORACIÓN

PV Plant at Ipswich supplied with central inverters and pv systems of Zigor

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ZIGOR CORPORACIÓN

ZIGOR CORPORACIÓN S.A.

Jesús María EguiluzDirector Comercial – Sales Director

AUTHOR

A success story

ZIGOR CORPORACIÓN, despite its youth, has found a place among the worldwide Power Electronics designers and manufacturers with an ongoing commitment during the last 14 years to techno-logy, innovation and internationalisation.

ZIGOR CORPORACIÓN has just finished the commissioning of the, up to date, largest roof-top solar plant built in the United Kingdom. The installation consists of an array of nominal power of 400kW built over the roof of a logistic centre at Ipswich (England), 75 miles northeast of Lon-don.

The Solar Plant has been developed by VIGOR RENEWABLES and built by GOING SOLAR. ZI-GOR CORPORACIÓN supplied the Central In-verters (4 units of Inverter model SUNZET 100 T), the String Boxes (3 units of SUNZET STRING for every Inverter) and the Monitoring Systems SCADA (SWS-1000), which will log all production data and allows a total monitoring of the Solar Plant through only one LAN Ethernet connection point.

The intelligent String Boxes, SUNZET STRING, are equipped with a current measurement system for every string of solar panels. Data is transfe-rred to the SUNZET 100 T Inverters via a RS 485 link. This feature allows the supplied current from every string to be monitored via a Web Server.

The SCADA System (SWS-1000) is connected to all Central Inverters SUNZET 100 T, which let the PV Plant Owner to monitor and check the right operation of every system within the Solar Plant:

Supply current of each String Box (SUNZET STRING)Supply current of each string of solar panels from the Solar Field.Working parameters and production data of each Central Inverter.

These energy efficient UPS have been espe-cially designed for industrial applications where it is necessary to assure power supply to criti-cal industrial processes. Customers like IBER-DROLA, MERCADONA, AUSONIA, SILVALAC or CEM (Spanish Metrology Centre) have relied on the solution developed by ZIGOR

Renewable Energy

The on grid SUNZET solar inverters, designed to optimise the yield of solar plants, have been de-veloped according to latest international regula-tions related to ant islanding, reactive power and ride through. The SUNZET Inverters fulfils Ger-man, Italian French and Spanish Grid Codes.

The HIT & HIS Hybrid Solar Inverters can be connected to PV solar panels, wind turbines and generators simultaneously. Designed for remote applications (Off Grid), in addition to electricity generation they control the battery charge and are able to optimise the use of avai-lable renewable resources.

The WINDSET inverters are designed to con-nect wind generation plants to the Distribution Network, with automatic reactive regulation and 97% efficiency.

The latest development of ZIGOR: SOLAR SE-PEC. This FACT has been developed to adapt PV Solar Plants (regardless of the inverter ma-nufacturer) to cope with voltage sags and en-sure continuity of operation in case of voltage

drops. The Spanish grid code requires the existing Solar Plants over 2 MW power to get adapted and meet the new operative procedu-re PO12.3 from REE.Also strategic for ZIGOR growth has been the internationalisation. The strategy to break into other markets has been around since the origins of the company, making a clear commitment to expansion through a network of subsidiaries, factories and sales offices worldwide.

Since the start-up of the first subsidiary (Zigor Mexico) in 2004, there have been a continuous bet for the international development, thus in 2006 was created Zigor do Brazil, in 2007 Zi-gor Chile, in 2009 Zigor Colombia, Zigor USA Corp. and Zigor Hong Kong Ltd. Early this year, another two subsidiaries joined Zigor Group: Zi-gor UK Ltd. and Zigor Argentina.

All mentioned subsidiaries have been created following the same philosophy: strong Com-mercial Staff and skilled Technical Service. We at ZIGOR believe that to face the challenges of entering new markets, we have to develop both departments in parallel: Commercial and Technical Service.

The new factory located at Rio de Janeiro (Bra-zil) is nowadays operational and manufacturing the first units of Rectifier-Battery Chargers and UPS Systems.

In addition to the subsidiaries and factories among Zigor Group, nowadays ZIGOR has expanded its International presence with an important network of Agents and Distributors worldwide.

Zigor Corporación s.a.Phone: +00 34 945214600Fax: +00 34 945229600

[email protected]

INFORMATION


GRUPO CLAVIJO

Two Axis trackers Installation

Planetary gear motor

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GRUPO CLAVIJO

GRUPO CLAVIJO

GRUPO CLAVIJO ELT, S.L. Polígono Industrial La Peña

Crta. NA-134 Km. 93 31230 - VIANA - NAVARRA - SPAIN

Phone: +00 34 948 645 121 Fax: +00 34 948 645 076

[email protected]

INFORMATION

Clavijo Group celebrates 50 years of tech-nological developments at intersolar North America

The Spanish company Grupo Clavijo presents the largest range of fixed structures and solar trackers on the global market at Inter-Solar North America (booths 7600, 7602 and 7064). The company celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2011. In 2004, it created the Renewable Energy division with the manufacture of photovoltaic assembly systems: fixed structures and sun trackers on one and two axes. The company’s investment in quality, innovation and technology throughout this time has turned it into an internatio-nal benchmark in the photovoltaic industry.

hydraulic brake and mitigates the effect of the wind on the tracker, avoiding breakage. Both brakes are placed at opposing points on the orientation crown, distributing the stresses re-ceived. This ensures that “sail” movement is mitigated and controlled.

Careful studies carried out on each of the many constituent elements of the trackers, as well as the integration of these elements into the final unit, generate full confidence in the strength, functionality and durability of the product.

ADDITIONAL SERVICES THAT OPTIMISE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE TRACKER

In addition to that mentioned above, the Clavijo Group offers a wide range of services that the customer may include in its assemblies, and which complement and optimise the functions of the tracker, among others:

> Customised Monitoring or remote control.> Hydraulic protection system, which ensures that, in the event of a power cut, the cover re-mains in a horizontal position, significantly re-ducing the force of the wind on the tracker, by reducing the normal surface area exposed.> The use of anemometers with digital monitor, independent of the trackers. This makes it pos-sible to make configurations to meet the needs of each customer.

> Optional data recorders for storing wind re-cords in three different ways: internal memory, extractable memory or remote connection via local or remote FTP.

The CLAVIJO Group also provides regular ins-pection and maintenance services to ensure the correct control and operation of trackers.Finally, and as an element assuring the quality of the product and service, ISO 9001 quality certification guarantees the planning, execution, control and review of each step of design and production, to ensure full customer satisfaction.

With more than 150 MW installed in Europe and the USA and more than 80 MW projects in the pipeline, and with production plants in Europe, the USA, Mexico and Canada, the company’s products have become the tech-nological reference for investors, sponsors, installers and EPC companies in the global photovoltaic sector.

Distinctive and differentiating characteristics of trackers from the CLAVIJO GROUP:

> Solid and resistant structure> All elements have been calculated and desig-ned by the finite element method according to the Eurocode.> CLAVIJO trackers can bear winds according to the Eurocode.> Each tracker includes a programmable con-trol unit (PLC). Most competitors use electronic circuits.> The sun is tracked via an astronomic pro-gram: it knows the exact position of the sun at any moment of the day for each season of the year, unlike other systems used by other manufacturers.> All key elements are inside the post, protec-ted against the risk of theft or adverse weather conditions.> Both movements (zenith and azimuth), are controlled by a high precision absolute enco-der (+- 0.5°). The tracker orientates itself auto-

matically in the event of any power cut. Other trackers begin from the initial position in the morning, wasting time and energy.> The power of the SS10 to SS29 model motor is 0.75 HP, and it operates with a hydraulic unit using cylinders 100 mm. in diameter.> Central hydraulic movement for all models from SS10 to SS29. The small SS04 model uses a linear actuator. > Most competitors incorporate a linear actua-tor in all models.> Flexibility: trackers are fully adaptable to any solar panel on the market.> All joints and are cased in bronze.

INNOVATED AZIMUTHAL BRAKING SYSTEM

Undoubtedly, the most notable characteristic, which differentiates us from the competition, is our innovative, patented, hydraulic braking sys-tem.

The CLAVIJO Group’s tracker has an automa-ted hydraulic brake, which compensates for potential play due to tolerances in the mesh between the guidance crown and the pinion of the geared motor. This eliminates variable and alternating loads that cause failure due to fati-gue in other trackers offered by the competition. Also, and to supplement this security system, the geared engine includes an electric brake which, in the event of strong winds, assists the

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KUBERTOR

Kubertor ® is the innovative solution and au-tomatically against overheating situations. The Kubertor is made from high quality ma-terials that can offer warranties of 5 years, both in moving parts like the fixed stars. There are currently installations on various types of plates, both large format Wagner Viessmann vacuum tubes latent Thermomax etc. ... The sun emits radiation, which according to va-rious situations (latitude, longitude, time, sea-son, ...) falls on a point, with varying intensity. Thermal needs both industrial and priva-te, often do not coincide with the hours

of highest solar thermal production. This condition, size, performance and payback of solar thermal installations. Our Kubertor ®, enables installations to set maximum performance objective in the winter, having dealt with the consequen-ces in the summer. Has a low power con-sumption and operates in just 50 seconds. The Kubertor ®, regardless of the chosen sensor monitors the temperature of the entire system based on actual consumption, subs-tantially improves the durability and hence the depreciation of equipment.

KUBERTOR

KUBERTORRenewable energies are the present and fu-ture of sustainable energy.If necessary to achieve high levels of efficiency, not least to get profitable. One of the most important problems to solve on solar power, is undoubtedly the overheating of the facility and one of the main reasons for the maintenance and repair costs. Processes and Solar Solutions, Ltd., has developed the ultimate solution, automatic and low cost, which allows calculating the size of the facilities are not thinking of maximum production in summer but in winter the maximum efficiency.

The Fraunhofer Institute, conducted in 2006 a very detailed study of the damage pro-duced in solar thermal systems, where a major consequence was that the optimum performance in the time of solar signifi-cantly harmed them overheating episodes.

Kubertor Studies Institute is developing a new con-cept of security control and solar thermal systems. Unlike other systems that use electrical energy to relieve the premises at a time of overheating, the Kubertor works on the temperature range of batteries, so when these are at maximum heat capacity, we make the stop sensors work. When you restart your hot water consumption reaches a preset level below the Kubertor be-comes active again allowing the system to res-tart the capture heat and raise the temperature of the tank. All in a completely automatic

The Kubertor provides:

> Obtain the maximum efficiency of solar ther-mal collection systems.> Improve collection net income.> Ensure the operation of the facility during its lifetime.> Reduce maintenance costs and break-downs.> Improved ratios of repayment.> Installation of Kubertor can make any type of sensor, newly installed or in progress.

Phone: +00 34 653 91 07 25Fax: +00 34 96 390 37 03

[email protected]

INFORMATION


The combination of high efficiencies together with cutting-edge, aesthetic designs, have led to the development of photovoltaic cur-tain walls, ventilated façades, transparent PV skylights or PV walkable roofs that replace con-ventional materials at the same time that allows the building to generate energy onsite. Colours, sizes, insulation degrees, transparen-cies or patterns, are some of the options that Onyx Solar´s smart and flexible photovoltaics can offer the market for an easier integration.

The Entrecanales Foundation and the investment group FIDES have become Onyx Solar share-holders: what does it mean for the company?This is the most important milestone since the company was established almost two years ago. Counting on the support of entrepreneu-rs and organizations such as the Entrecanales Foundation or FIDES Group makes you realize that you are going in the right way. Their finan-cial, industrial and communication contribution will pay an important role in the growth of our company. Actually they will guide with us the fu-ture development of the company and they will consolidate a project that has showed a great path and successful trajectory since it was conceived by the founder of the company.

It’s curious but in the middle of the construc-tion crisis, a company so linked to the sector is achieving excellent results.We have always been very optimistic, and we have tried to share that vision with the market. If you bet for innovation and cutting-edge solu-tions such as the integration of renewable ener-gies into the sector, you may see good results, going green through Green Building practices. The sector is experiencing a re-foundation of its model and there are plenty of opportunities for those who can realize about it and adapt their business to this new global reality. At Onyx

Solar we are working on more than 200 pro-jects over more than 30 countries worldwide, creating jobs at a good rate and counting on growth forecasts that surpass the predictions for this sector by far.

What’s new in what Onyx Solar do?In Onyx we incorporate photovoltaic properties to any building envelope, counting on all the PV technology available in the market. It allows us to generate clean and free electricity from the Sun, onsite, and dealing with great designs and aesthetic values. Architects can integrate photovoltaics with beautiful designs now. We have taken building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) to the edge, making it almost impercep-tible. Our photovoltaic solutions replaces con-ventional materials such as ceramics or stone in curtain walls, cladding or skylights, among others. This solutions can be fully customized in different colors, transparencies or patterns, providing the architect with almost unlimited integration alternatives. The old-fashioned pa-nels installed on the roof with solar trackers are part of the past and now, we can achieve same performances from an aesthetic and flexible viewpoint.

What are the clues for your success?I believe we have been able to detect a growing market niche, and from that point we have always been very ambitious. Since the beginning, we have invested time and money on R&D and internationalization, offering our products and services abroad with no doubts, introducing our solutions to the most renowned architects worldwide, many of whom are already counting on our expertise for their designs. In addition, our young, dynamic and motivated team works hard every day, sharing their passion for this project. Flexibility and adaptation are key points as well. The result could not be better.

ONYX SOLARONYX SOLAR

ONYX SOLARSmart Building Integrated Photovoltaics con-quering the construction market worldwide.Onyx Solar, an innovative company headquartered in Spain and counting on offices in New York and Shanghai, is hitting the mar-ket. Its smart solutions -photovoltaic building materials which generate free and clean energy from the Sun- have caught the attention of world recognized architecture firms such as Foster and Partners, Nouvel, KPF or SOM.

Onyx SolarP.I. Las Hervencias

C/ Río Cea, 1 Nave H605004 Ávila Spain

Phone: +00 34 920 21 00 50Fax: +00 34 920 35 12 31

[email protected]

INFORMATION

Álvaro BeltránChairman and Founder at Onyx Solar

INTERVIEW TO

Semi-Transparent Photovoltaic Skylight installed in Madrid

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100% customized photovoltaic glass are available in various colors and semitranspa-rence degrees

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Photovoltaic façade from Onyx Solar in SML house for the Solar Decathlon Europe

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Ventilated photovoltaic façade for the Pfizer-University of Granada Center for Genomic and Oncologic Research

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Walkable photovoltaic roof

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Onyx Solar has designed a wide range of photovoltaic constructive solutions with undeniable aesthetic value and unbeatable in terms of heat insulation that produces free electricity from the sun

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44INTERSOLAR – Europa & U.S.A. ·

FUNDACIÓN JOSÉ MANUEL ENTRECANALES

FUNDACIÓN JOSÉ MANUEL ENTECANALES

For Innovation and SustainabilityAware of the sustainability problems and climate change conse-quences that society is going through, this young Spanish Foun-dation is assisting new companies that contribute to sustainabi-lity in different sectors with their innovative products, processes or business models.

The Foundation José Manuel Entrecanales para la Innovación en Sostenibilidad (José Manuel Entrecanales Foundation for Innova-tion and Sustainability) was set up in 2009 with a two-fold objective to foster innovati-ve business initiatives aimed at sustainable economic development, and to encoura-ge a culture of sustainability and the com-mitment of society at large to sustainability. The Foundation sets out to become an entre-preneurial breeding ground for innovation in sustainability, helping to foster and dissemina-te this kind of innovation by providing impetus and support for the spirit of enterprise; and to encourage the commitment of individuals and society as a whole.

Criteria

The Foundation strives to foster and promote the spirit of entrepreneurship in sustainability by assisting in the development of innovati-ve companies that contribute to sustainability through their efforts to develop products, pro-cesses and business models.We provide financial and technical support. Financial support is provided through the fi-nancing or co-financing of a company's acti-vities, which usually involves taking a stake in its capital. Technical support includes advising entrepreneurs on how to develop their busi-ness plan and how to promote their products or activities.

The Foundation's priorities as regards projects for 2011 are as follows:

> Sectors of Activity: clean energy, smart grids, energy efficiency, alternative transport, waste management, water management, natural re-sources and biotech.

> Company Profile: Duly constituted compa-nies, usually recently set-up. A business plan to which the Foundation can bring value-added beyond financial support.> Investment Profile: An initial maximum inves-tment of 200,000 euros and a maximum total investment of 500,000 euros throughout the development of the business plan.

1. Stake: Between 10% and 30% of capital.2. Investment period: Up to 5 years.

Fostering Sustainability

The Foundation plans to acknowledge, recog-nize and publicly disseminate the efforts of tho-se companies and businessmen who strive to achieve excellence in the following areas:

> Management and eco-efficiency> Fighting climate change> Developing renewable energies and sustai-nability

Special consideration will be given to initiatives or clean technologies that stand out in particu-lar for their innovation, originality, projection and environmental benefits.The Foundation also sets out to encourage and contribute to the inclusion of sustainability concepts at the very earliest stages of educa-tion. Moreover, as well as striving to take the field of sustainability to schools and universi-ties, we attempt to instill entrepreneurship into students.The Foundation has a range of other activi-ties, including participation in conferences and events for businessmen and study projects, as well as internships and labor incentives in hig-her education studies related to Environmental Sciences and Sustainable Development.

JME FOUNDATIONContact: Isabel Echevarría

Phone: +00 34 677 523 558

[email protected]

José Manuel Entrecanales

INFORMATION

AUTHOR

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Spain Energy

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