Sun gifts

If there should be somewhere huge solar towers for electric power generation to happen it should somewhere here — in the south of solar Spain, near to Seville. The commercial thermal solar power station first in Europe — PS 10 — has officially become operational on March, 30th this year. Power of the station erected in Spain, makes 11 megawatt.

№2: PS 20

Hardly later, in April, 2009, Spaniards have erected the second tower, is more powerful than the first twice — PS 20. The principle of work of towers is simple: the field from set of the mirrors tracing movement of the Sun, collects light and directs a sunlight on tower top, heating up a hydrochloric solution which in turn, gives energy to water, transforming water to steam.

Steam runs on pipes and, finally, twists the turbines connected to electric generators. Thanks to presence of the intermediate heat-carrier — salt weight — towers are capable to accumulate “warmly for emergency”.

The world's largest solar power station

In cloudy weather or evening of the turbine are capable to work on the energy kept in the big tanks with hot salt. The capacious storehouse of the fused salt (565 degrees warmed up to temperature on Celsius) can ensure functioning of steam and gas generators within 16 hours after a sunset. So in the summer station generators will not stop neither in the afternoon, nor at night.

Project PS20 has 1,255 mirrors, PS10 — 624 mirrors, the area on 130 sq. m. everyone. PS20 — the world's largest power station, power of 20 megawatt a day, is enough this energy to provide with light, heat and an electricity more than 10,000 houses. Similar towers it is planned to erect also in the southwest USA.