IRVING, USA: Fluor Corp. announced that the company was awarded an engineering services contract by eSolar Inc., for the design of a 46 megawatt concentrating solar power (CSP) plant. Fluor will provide design optimization to rapidly scale eSolar’s 46 megawatt power plants. The undisclosed contract value was booked in the company’s third quarter of 2009.
“Fluor is well-positioned to play a leading role in the global EPC renewable energy market,” said Dave Dunning, president of Fluor’s Power Group. “Our proven expertise in designing and building power generation facilities will further validate and strengthen eSolar’s technological advancements and bolster their ability to deploy their unique design worldwide to meet their business agenda.”
“We believe that Fluor’s superior engineering strength will lead to faster and broader deployment to meet the rising global demand for renewable energy. With our first 5 MW power plant in the ground and delivering electricity to the grid, we are thrilled to have Fluor onboard to help scale this new breakthrough in solar technology to meet customer demand,” said Bill Gross, chief executive officer of eSolar.
Fluor’s southern California operations center is leading the effort on this project with an immediate start date. Fluor will perform detailed studies focused on optimizing performance, constructability and cost. This will include basic engineering for a reference plant design that will be used to provide a scalable design package to potential developers worldwide.
Over the last three decades, Fluor’s experience in the renewables sector includes work in the solar, wind, nuclear, geothermal and air quality improvement sectors. Earlier this year, Fluor’s Power Group created a dedicated business line to specifically address the needs of the global renewable energy market.
Showing posts with label CSP. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CSP. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
eSolar cranks out alternative energy plant designs in SolidWorks
CONCORD, USA: A five megawatt (MW) pilot concentrated solar power (CSP) plant designed in SolidWorks 3D CAD software went online this week, providing electricity to 4,000 homes near Los Angeles. California-based eSolar used SolidWorks software to design heliostat mirrors that reflect and concentrate sunlight to a boiler that generates steam and powers a standard turbine to create solar energy.
Key facts
* Funded in part by Google, eSolar is an Idealab company that develops and constructs modular, scalable solar thermal power plants.
* eSolar’s methodology standardizes heliostat production to reduce costs and development time, while simplifying deployment.
* eSolar uses 20 licenses of SolidWorks software to engineer the exact mirror specifications that can withstand extreme winds yet be light enough for easy electronic adjustment.
* By enabling eSolar engineers to calculate precise tolerances and part fits on screen, SolidWorks has eliminated a full prototype cycle (normally four months).
* Contract manufacturers work with eSolar’s SolidWorks designs to ensure manufacturability and ease of assembly, further streamlining development.
* eSolar also uses SolidWorks Workgroup PDM product data management software to ensure version control while different engineers work on the same design simultaneously.
* Global energy demand could double or triple by 2050, according to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.
* By 2020, solar energy could easily provide energy to over a billion people globally and provide 2.3 million full-time jobs, according to EPIA and Greenpeace.
Rick Iannello, vice president of manufacturing, said: "As a startup company, we want to deliver our product as fast as possible. That means proving the technology and garnering interest while you still have enough capital.
"SolidWorks software played a critical role in helping us refine the technology quickly so we could start shopping our scalable plant design around. The result is that we’ve gone online with our pilot, and we have other projects in the works. That’s the kind of early traction we need."
Key facts
* Funded in part by Google, eSolar is an Idealab company that develops and constructs modular, scalable solar thermal power plants.
* eSolar’s methodology standardizes heliostat production to reduce costs and development time, while simplifying deployment.
* eSolar uses 20 licenses of SolidWorks software to engineer the exact mirror specifications that can withstand extreme winds yet be light enough for easy electronic adjustment.
* By enabling eSolar engineers to calculate precise tolerances and part fits on screen, SolidWorks has eliminated a full prototype cycle (normally four months).
* Contract manufacturers work with eSolar’s SolidWorks designs to ensure manufacturability and ease of assembly, further streamlining development.
* eSolar also uses SolidWorks Workgroup PDM product data management software to ensure version control while different engineers work on the same design simultaneously.
* Global energy demand could double or triple by 2050, according to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.
* By 2020, solar energy could easily provide energy to over a billion people globally and provide 2.3 million full-time jobs, according to EPIA and Greenpeace.
Rick Iannello, vice president of manufacturing, said: "As a startup company, we want to deliver our product as fast as possible. That means proving the technology and garnering interest while you still have enough capital.
"SolidWorks software played a critical role in helping us refine the technology quickly so we could start shopping our scalable plant design around. The result is that we’ve gone online with our pilot, and we have other projects in the works. That’s the kind of early traction we need."
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Parsons, TSK sign strategic alliance agreement
PASADENA, USA: Parsons has signed a strategic alliance agreement with TSK, a leading enterprise in the engineering and electrical equipment sector.
Parsons and TSK have created a strategic partnership to provide Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technology applications in North America and the Middle East. CSP has proven an effective and efficient technology for generating merchant class solar power at levels from 20 to 500 megawatts.
Parsons, an engineering, construction, and technical and management services firm headquartered in Pasadena, California, brings to the partnership the ability to deliver large solar projects from planning and environmental permitting through startup.
TSK is completing two CSP projects in Spain that incorporate thermal storage—storing heat in molten salts, providing for generation of solar-powered energy 24/7. Spain has long been a leader in solar power, driven by long-term support from the Spanish government.
“CSP with thermal storage should find a very large market in the Sunbelt of North America and throughout the Middle East,” said Mike Walsh, Parsons Group President. “The combination of Parsons’ resources and reputation in the market and TSK’s experience and expertise with CSP with thermal storage will provide utilities, power districts, and independent power producers with an elegant option for base load renewable power to meet large-scale renewable power requirements.”
Until recently, the plants have been limited to “peaker” service, since solar could only produce power when the sun is shining. That has now changed; CSP can produce power around the clock and be a base load generator.
Having the ability to produce solar power around the clock is a “game changer” in the rapidly moving solar and renewable power field. Thus, Parsons and TSK look forward to working together on this important undertaking.
Parsons and TSK have created a strategic partnership to provide Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technology applications in North America and the Middle East. CSP has proven an effective and efficient technology for generating merchant class solar power at levels from 20 to 500 megawatts.
Parsons, an engineering, construction, and technical and management services firm headquartered in Pasadena, California, brings to the partnership the ability to deliver large solar projects from planning and environmental permitting through startup.
TSK is completing two CSP projects in Spain that incorporate thermal storage—storing heat in molten salts, providing for generation of solar-powered energy 24/7. Spain has long been a leader in solar power, driven by long-term support from the Spanish government.
“CSP with thermal storage should find a very large market in the Sunbelt of North America and throughout the Middle East,” said Mike Walsh, Parsons Group President. “The combination of Parsons’ resources and reputation in the market and TSK’s experience and expertise with CSP with thermal storage will provide utilities, power districts, and independent power producers with an elegant option for base load renewable power to meet large-scale renewable power requirements.”
Until recently, the plants have been limited to “peaker” service, since solar could only produce power when the sun is shining. That has now changed; CSP can produce power around the clock and be a base load generator.
Having the ability to produce solar power around the clock is a “game changer” in the rapidly moving solar and renewable power field. Thus, Parsons and TSK look forward to working together on this important undertaking.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Beginning of the end for fossil fuels and nuclear?
EL SEGUNDO, USA: In what iSuppli Corp. believes could mark the beginning of the end of the use of fossil fuel and nuclear technologies for electrical generation, the world’s largest re-insurance company has announced an unprecedented effort to invest billions of euros in solar power plants in North Africa.
The Desertec project, sponsored by Germany’s Munich Re, plans to invest 400 billion euros to build solar power plants in the North African Sunbelt, located in the Sahara Desert region.
The effort will utilize Concentrating Solar Thermal Power (CSP) plants to generate electricity and will establish an upgraded electrical grid in the Mediterranean countries. The project will be built during the next 10 years.
Munich Re, Siemens, Deutsche Bank and RWE are partnering in the project, and more than 15 other companies are being invited to join the consortium.
“Beyond the major impact of Desertec itself, the project is set to spur a new wave of other solar power plants and projects, iSuppli predicts, marking a historic shift from traditional electrical-generation techniques to solar power,” said Henning Wicht, senior director and principal analyst for photovoltaics at iSuppli.
“Desertec represents a number of milestones in the history of the solar business. For one, it marks the first time that private companies will invest in a long-term renewable-energy endeavor of such vast size.
Furthermore, leading companies have never undertaken such major risks to invest in a relatively new technology amid an uncertain political environment and missing infrastructure.
“Finally, insurance companies traditionally have been risk-averse investors. The participation of Munich Re provides priceless value and credibility for future renewable-energy projects,” Wicht said.
“Because of these factors, Desertec is likely to be followed by other initiatives. iSuppli expects China will move quickly on similar projects because of its eagerness not to miss out on the future of the renewable energy business.”
The private companies funding Desertec expect an attractive margin by producing and selling electricity from the desert. The Wuppertal Institut of Energy concluded in a study sponsored by Greenpeace that by 2050, the CSP industry will generate about 2,000 billion euros in revenue and will create 600,000 new jobs worldwide.
This means that the CSP industry will be able to offer as many jobs as the German automotive industry does today.
A large portion of the equipment for the North African power plants will be delivered by the German solar industry.
Leading suppliers for the Desertec project will include:
· Flabeg and Schott Solar, which supply CSP systems.
· Siemens, which offers steam generation turbines.
· MAN Ferrostaal and Solar Millennium, which are experienced project developers for concentrated solar power systems.
Aside from this milestone for CSP plants, iSuppli believes that Photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated PV systems will complement the technology mix of Desertec. PV is well suited for situations in which no water can be found to generate steam to run the solar thermal power plants.
The next date to watch for the Desertec project is mid-July—when the industrial partners meet again to formerly announce the consortium. iSuppli will be reporting this development from Munich.
The Desertec project, sponsored by Germany’s Munich Re, plans to invest 400 billion euros to build solar power plants in the North African Sunbelt, located in the Sahara Desert region.
The effort will utilize Concentrating Solar Thermal Power (CSP) plants to generate electricity and will establish an upgraded electrical grid in the Mediterranean countries. The project will be built during the next 10 years.
Munich Re, Siemens, Deutsche Bank and RWE are partnering in the project, and more than 15 other companies are being invited to join the consortium.
“Beyond the major impact of Desertec itself, the project is set to spur a new wave of other solar power plants and projects, iSuppli predicts, marking a historic shift from traditional electrical-generation techniques to solar power,” said Henning Wicht, senior director and principal analyst for photovoltaics at iSuppli.
“Desertec represents a number of milestones in the history of the solar business. For one, it marks the first time that private companies will invest in a long-term renewable-energy endeavor of such vast size.
Furthermore, leading companies have never undertaken such major risks to invest in a relatively new technology amid an uncertain political environment and missing infrastructure.
“Finally, insurance companies traditionally have been risk-averse investors. The participation of Munich Re provides priceless value and credibility for future renewable-energy projects,” Wicht said.
“Because of these factors, Desertec is likely to be followed by other initiatives. iSuppli expects China will move quickly on similar projects because of its eagerness not to miss out on the future of the renewable energy business.”
The private companies funding Desertec expect an attractive margin by producing and selling electricity from the desert. The Wuppertal Institut of Energy concluded in a study sponsored by Greenpeace that by 2050, the CSP industry will generate about 2,000 billion euros in revenue and will create 600,000 new jobs worldwide.
This means that the CSP industry will be able to offer as many jobs as the German automotive industry does today.
A large portion of the equipment for the North African power plants will be delivered by the German solar industry.
Leading suppliers for the Desertec project will include:
· Flabeg and Schott Solar, which supply CSP systems.
· Siemens, which offers steam generation turbines.
· MAN Ferrostaal and Solar Millennium, which are experienced project developers for concentrated solar power systems.
Aside from this milestone for CSP plants, iSuppli believes that Photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated PV systems will complement the technology mix of Desertec. PV is well suited for situations in which no water can be found to generate steam to run the solar thermal power plants.
The next date to watch for the Desertec project is mid-July—when the industrial partners meet again to formerly announce the consortium. iSuppli will be reporting this development from Munich.
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