PROJECT SUMMARY

In December 2010, the Department of Energy issued a $1.45 billion loan guarantee to finance Solana, a 250-MW parabolic trough concentrating solar power (CSP) plant with an innovative thermal energy storage system. Solana represents the first deployment of this thermal energy storage technology in the United States and is one of the largest projects of its kind in the world. It started commercial operations in October 2013.

TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION

Solana uses the first U.S. application of an innovative thermal energy storage system with molten salt as the energy storage media, combined with parabolic trough concentrating solar power (CSP) technology. While the CSP technology is similar to technology that was initially used in the 1980s, Solana is the largest energy storage project and the first in the United States to store over 1000 MWh of energy that is dispatchable on demand without sunlight. The project spans roughly three square miles and consists of over 32,000 collector assemblies—each comprised of 28 curved mirrors—to efficiently concentrate the sun’s energy into a heat transfer fluid. A synthetic oil-based heat transfer fluid heats water to produce steam, which drives a conventional steam turbine generator.

ECONOMIC IMPACT

Solana created 1,700 construction jobs and is expected to support 60 permanent jobs. Additional economic impacts include an estimated $300 million to $400 million in 30-year tax revenues and more than $1 billion in gross state revenue.

CLIMATE BENEFIT

Solana is expected to generate 900,000 megawatt-hours of clean energy per year and prevent 480,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. Additionally, Solana minimizes its use of Arizona’s valuable water supply by using 75% less water for solar energy production than its previous agriculture designation.

 

PROJECT STATISTICS: SOLANA

PROJECT SUMMARY

Owners

Atlantica Yield & Liberty Interactive Corporation

Location

Gila Bend, Arizona

FINANCIAL SUMMARY

Loan Program

Title XVII

Loan Type

Loan Guarantee

Loan Amount 1

$1.45 Billion

Issuance Date

December 2010

ENERGY SUMMARY

Operation Status

Operating

Generation Capacity

250 MW

Projected Annual Generation 2

900,000 MWh

ECONOMIC IMPACT

Permanent U.S. Jobs Supported

90

U.S. Construction Jobs Supported 3

1,700

CLIMATE BENEFIT

CO2 Emissions Prevented Annually

480,000 Metric Tons

NOTES

All information up-to-date. Last updated June 2017.

1 Approximate amount of the loan facility approved at closing including principal and any capitalized interest.

2 Calculated using the project's and NREL Technology specific capacity factors. For cases in which NREL's capacity factors do not encompass project's specific design and operation, project specific capacity factors are used.

3 Estimated at the time of closing.

 

PROJECT PHOTOS