Projects in USA

California

Industrial Process Heat: Frito-Lay – Modesto, California

This system consists of 54,500 ft2 (5065 m 2) of parabolic trough collectors covering an area of about 4 acres (1.5 hectares). The collectors operate at temperatures up to 480° F (249 C) to deliver high temperature pressurized water, used to generate steam. This steam is delivered to the plant, where it heats the oil used to fry potato and corn chips. This is the largest operating solar process heat system in the U.S., producing over 8 million Btu/h (2.4 MW) of thermal energy under peak conditions.

PT1 Trough

The system was installed with financial assistance from the California Energy Commission under the Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program. Abengoa is providing the solar equipment to Frito-Lay (a division of PepsiCo) under a subcontract with the General Contractor, American Energy Assets (AEA).

Diagram of Solar Steam Generating System at Frio-Lay, Modesto, California

District Heating: California Correctional Institution – Tehachapi, California (PT1)

The CCI solar collector field

The Correctional Institution’s solar power is provided by a PT-1 system covering two acres. The solar collector field heats a pressurized water district-heating loop to about 240° F, providing thermal energy for space heating and domestic hot water a complex serving 6,000 inmates and staff. During the summer months, the system provides essentially 100% of the thermal needs of the prison. The solar system came online in 1990 and has operated continuously ever since.

During the summer months, the system provides essentially 100% of the thermal needs of the prison. The solar system came online in 1990 and has operated continuously ever since.

PT1 Trough

Modesto Solar

Location: Desert of Mojave, 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles, near Harper Dry Lake.

Type of project: a 250 MW CSP trough plant

Abengoa Solar has signed a power purchase agreement with Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) to supply the electricity generated by the new solar plant "Mojave Solar." The project will generate 250 megawatts (MW) of Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) and is to be located in an unincorporated area of San Bernardino County, between Barstow and Kramer Junction, approximately nine miles northwest of Hinkley, and 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles. The project is expected to bring 1,200 green construction jobs and, when completed, approximately 80 permanent jobs to this desert area.

Once it starts operating in 2013, it will generate nearly as much electricity as all of California's present-day commercial CSP installations combined, enough to power about 90,000 average homes, and avoid over 431 kilotons per year of greenhouse gas emissions.

Know more about Mojave Project, visit here.