World's First Commercial Solar Power Plant

The world's first commercial solar power station capable of operating round the clock and in all weathers, was built in the Spanish Andalusia.

Power plant capacity 19.9 MW Gemasolar equipped with two tanks of molten salts that collect heat energy produced during the day. Thus it can generate electricity 24 hours a day.

The term "solar power" or "gelioelestrostantsiya" is often associated with the station, which produces solar energy using solar panels. Nevertheless, Gemasolar belongs to the category Concentration solar power (CSP). These power plants use the sun's energy to heat certain fluids, whether water or molten salt to produce steam. The latter drives the turbines that generate electricity.

Gemasolar consists of thousands of square meters of mirrors (not solar). These mirrors are used to concentrate sunlight at one point, working like a huge magnifying glass. Then the liquid, which flows past the point of concentration of light, is heated to several hundred degrees Celsius and uses heat to power turbines.

The new plant will produce about 110 000 MWh of energy per year, enough to supply power over 25,000 homes. It is worth noting that the plant was designed to operate for 270 days a year. Its construction was started officially in May 2011.