CSP Guide
The Plataforma Solar de Almeria, which belongs to the Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), is the largest European center for research, development and testing of concentrating solar technologies. PSA activities are integrated as a Division of R&D within the structure of the CIEMAT’s Department of Energy.
The objectives that inspire its research activity are the following:
- Contribute to the establishment of a sustainable, clean, world energy supply.
- Contribute to conservation of European energy resources, climate and environment.
- Promote market introduction of solar thermal technologies and derived solar chemical processes.
- Contribute to development of a competitive European solar thermal export industry.
- Reinforce cooperation between the business sector and scientific institutions in the field of research, development, demonstration and marketing of the solar thermal technologies.
- Boost cost-reducing technological innovation, thus contributing to increased market acceptance of the solar thermal technologies.
- Promote North-South technological cooperation, especially in the Mediterranean Area.
- Assist industry in identifying market opportunities related to the solar thermal technologies.
The PSA has two exceptional facilities for the testing and validation of central receiver technology components and applications. The CRS and CESA-1 enable projects to be undertaken and technologies validated in the hundreds-of-kilowatt range. They are outdoor laboratories specially conditioned for scaling and qualifying systems prior to commercial demonstration.
