Aug 20 2009
Solutia Inc. announced today that it will be supplying Therminol VP-1 synthetic heat transfer fluid to a new 470 MW hybrid solar plant in Ain-Ben-Mathar, Morocco and a 170 MW hybrid solar plant in Hassi R'Mel, Algeria. Both plants have 20 MW each of power output capacity from solar thermal oil-based parabolic trough collector fields and are being constructed by Abener. They are currently slated to begin producing electricity in 2010.
Abener, a pioneer in the hybrid solar power plant construction industry and a subsidiary of Spanish Abengoa Group, selected Therminol VP-1 due to its superior ability to meet demanding requirements of high temperature systems and Therminol's more than 20 years of experience in solar projects.
"Therminol's agreement reached with Abener is an exciting advancement of our strategy of growing with the rapidly expanding global solar market," said Richard Altice, Vice President of Commercial Services, Technical Specialties. Therminol has announced a number of significant projects in 2009 to supply solar power plants globally.
Therminol heat transfer fluid is used in the trough-shaped mirror assemblies to absorb concentrated sunlight and heat up to about 400 degrees C. The heated Therminol is used to generate steam that drives power generating turbines.