Solana, the world´s largest parabolic solar plant with a total installed capacity of 280 MW (gross) and also the first solar plant in the United States with thermal energy storage, has successfully passed commercial operation tests.
The project, run by Abengoa, is able to generate electricity for six hours without sunshine. The plant is located near Gila Bend and about 70 miles southwest of Phoenix, Arizona. It began construction in 2010. In tests, Solana successfully operated at the turbine’s full capacity while charging the thermal storage system, and continued to produce electricity after the sun went down.
Solana uses parabolic technology, which consists of parabolic shaped mirrors mounted on structures that track the sun and concentrate the sun’s heat, later transforming water into steam and powering a conventional steam turbine.
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