Annual Report 2006 - Plataforma Solar de Almería

FACILITIES AND INSTALLATIONS
2 Facilities and infrastructure
2.1 General Description of the PSA
The PSA is located in southeastern Spain in the Tabernas Desert at
37º05’27.8” north and 2º21’19” west. It receives a direct annual insolation of
over 1900 kWh/(m 2·year) and the average annual temperature is around
17ºC.
The PSA is an experimental facility with climate and insolation conditions
similar to those in developing solar-belt countries (where the greatest potential
for solar energy is found), but with all the advantages of large scientific
installations in the most advanced European countries, making it a privileged
site for evaluation, demonstration and transfer of solar technologies.
The main test facilities available at the PSA are [SolarPACES, 1996]:
• CESA-1 and SSPS-CRS central receiver systems, 7 and 2.7 MW th respectively
• SSPS-DCS 1.2-MW th parabolic-trough collector system, with associated
thermal storage system and water desalination plant
• DISS 1.8-MW th test loop, an excellent experimental system for twophase
flow and direct steam generation for electricity production research
• HTF test loop, a complete oil circuit for evaluation of new parabolictrough
collector components
Figure 2.1 Location of the main PSA test facilities
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