Shams Solar Power Station Explained

Shams I
Coordinates:23.5694°N 53.7139°W
Country:United Arab Emirates
Location:Madinat Zayed, Abu Dhabi
Status:O
Construction Began:July 2010
Commissioned:17 March 2013
Cost:US$600 million
Owner:Masdar (60%)
Abengoa Solar (20%)
Total S.A. (20%)
Solar Type:CSP
Solar Csp Technology:P
Solar Collectors:768
Ps Site Area:2.50NaN0
Solar Site Resource:1,934 kWh/m2/yr[1]
Ps Units Operational:1
Ps Electrical Capacity:100 MW
Ps Annual Generation:210 GWh

Shams Solar Power Station (Arabic: شمس|lit=Sun) is a concentrating solar power station near Madinat Zayed, Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates. The solar power station is located approximately southwest of Abu Dhabi and 6km (04miles) from Madinat Zayed on the road from Tarif to the Liwa Oasis.

The Shams station is planned to eventually include 3 plants: Shams 1 became operational on 17 March 2013.[2] Using parabolic trough technology with a capacity of 100 megawatts (MW), Shams 1 was the largest concentrated solar power (CSP) facility in the world when it opened.[3] [4] Shams 1 will be followed by the Shams 2 and Shams 3 power plants.[5] [6] The website Shamspower describes the impact and sustainability factors of the solar power plant.

Description

Shams 1 is a 100 MW concentrating solar power station which uses parabolic trough technology. It displaces 175,000 tons of per year and its power output is enough to power 20,000 homes. The station consists of 258,048 parabolic trough mirrors, 192 solar collector assembly loops with 8 solar collector assemblies per loop, 768 solar collector assembly units, and 27,648 absorber pipes. It covers an area of approximately .[7]

The basic and detailed engineering have been developed by AG Ingeniería. The project is consulted by Fichtner Consulting Engineers.[8] The equipment is designed and delivered by Foster Wheeler.[9] The power station is equipped by Abengoa Solar's ASTRO collectors. The 125 MW steam turbine is provided by MAN Turbo, parabolic glass mirrors are provided by Flabeg, PTR 70 absorber tubes are provided by Schott AG, and Therminol heat transfer fluid is provided by Solutia.[4] [10]

In October 2010 it was reported that because of "substantial" atmospheric dust, solar radiation received by Shams' solar collectors was less than expected and more collectors would be required.[11]

Technical specifications

Developer

The project is developed by the Shams Power Company, a special purpose vehicle of Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) in cooperation with Spain's Abengoa Solar and France's Total S.A.[11] Masdar has 60% in the project while Abengoa Solar and Total S.A. each have 20%.[12] The power station is developed under a 25-year build, own and operate contract. Bids to build and operate the power station were made by several international consortia. In addition to Abengoa Solar and Total S.A., Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power and Spain's Iberdrola, Germany's MAN Ferrostaal and Solar Millennium, and Spain's Grupo Cobra and Grupo Sener made their bids.[8]

Financing

The construction cost of Shams 1 is about US$600 million.[2] [11] The project is financed by 10 regional and international lenders including BNP Paribas, the National Bank of Abu Dhabi and Société Générale.[13]

See also

Notes and References

  1. http://www.nrel.gov/csp/solarpaces/project_detail.cfm/projectID=69 Shams 1
  2. Web site: Shams 1 Concentrating Solar Power Projects . National Renewable Energy Laboratory . 15 September 2022.
  3. News: Quick . Darren . World's largest concentrated solar power plant opens in the UAE . 15 September 2022 . New Atlas . 19 March 2013.
  4. News: Sun Shines on Turbine Makers . Webb . Chris . 2009-06-01 . . Power Engineering International . 2012-01-12.
  5. News: Riesiges Sonnenwärmekraftwerk startet Betrieb . Huge solar thermal power plant starts operation . German . 17 March 2013 . . 17 March 2013.
  6. News: Milestone: Shams 1 set to tap solar power . Al Makahleh . Shehab . 23 November 2012 . . 25 November 2012 .
  7. News: Abengoa Joins Masdar, Total on Middle East's First Solar Plant . Daya . Ayesha . June 9, 2010 . . . 2010-06-08.
  8. Web site: Masdar - Shams 1 Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) Plant . ABQ Zawya Ltd. . 2009-08-01 . .
  9. News: Foster Wheeler to supply 100 MW solar power plant to Abu Dhabi . . . 2010-11-22 . 2012-01-13.
  10. News: MAN Turbo bags steam turbines order for world's largest solar power plant . . . 2009-04-28 . 2012-01-13.
  11. News: Dust Blocking Sun Rays at Solar Plant in Abu Dhabi, Masdar Official Says . Sills . Ben . Daya . Ayesha . 2010-10-27 . . 2012-01-12.
  12. News: Masdar partners with Total and Abengoa Solar on Sham 1 project . . . 2010-06-14 . 2012-01-13.
  13. News: Concentrating solar power in the United Arab Emirates: Shams 1 project secures financial close . 2011-03-07 . SolarServer . 2011-01-12 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110313173055/http://www.solarserver.com/solar-magazine/solar-news/current/2011/kw10/concentrating-solar-power-in-the-united-arab-emirates-shams-1-project-secures-financial-close.html . 2011-03-13.