Spain is using Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technology in a bid to cut down its carbon emissions. The new technology makes use of giant mirrors- roughly the size of half a tennis court- positioned in such away that they superheat water resulting in the creation of energy. These solar towers, as they are called, are seen by many to be a simpler, more efficient and cheaper method to harness the sun's energy than the use of photovoltaic panels. However, this method only works in regions with clear skies and strong sunshine.
The Andalusian deserts in southern Spain provide exactly the right conditions for such a project to work.
The EUR80 million plant, which is being built 30km outside Seville, will begin its operations in January next year and will produce 20 MW of power, enough to power 11,000 Spanish homes.
This project is the biggest of its kind in the world and is just the beginning for Spain which plans on building more than 50 solar projects all around the country. The government aims to produce 2GW of solar power from CSPs by 2015 which will exceed the country's national targets.
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Pic courtesy jacobo.portillo/ Jacobo from flickr.com
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