Successful start in Egypt: Solar field of the hybrid power plant in Kuraymat exceeds expectations
Three months after commencing operation, the production at Egypt’s first major solar-thermal power plant exceeds expectations considerably. The solar field, based on parabolic trough technology developed by the Solar Millennium Group, generates nearly eight percent more energy on average than estimated. Kuraymat, situated some 100 kilometers south of Cairo, which went into commercial operation in June 2011, is a hybrid power plant with overall electric capacity of 150 megawatts (MW). In addition to solar energy, the plant also uses natural gas. This combination allows for 24-hour operation, saves natural gas resources and supplies nearly two million people with energy.
The solar technology for this reference project was delivered by Flagsol GmbH, a subsidiary of Solar Millennium AG (ISIN DE0007218406). Flagsol designed the solar field and the heat transfer fluid (HTF) system in the absorber pipes, delivered the control unit for the solar field and other key components. The solar field was installed and commissioned in cooperation with Egyptian general contractor, Orascom Construction Industries. Since receiving the operational acceptance certificate on June 1, 2011, Flagsol GmbH advises Orascom on operation and maintenance (O&M) of the solar field. Flagsol has six O&M experts on site to work on further improving the thermal performance of the solar field together with Orascom.
In Erlangen, Dr. Christoph Wolff, the CEO of Solar Millennium AG, explained, “Kuraymat is proof that our solar-thermal technology is efficient. In addition, the power plant impressively shows that the Desertec vision can be realized and creates local jobs in clean energy generation”.
In an assembly hall that was built especially for this purpose, more than 100 Egyptian technicians constructed around 2,000 collector units. The finished Skal-ET collectors measuring approx. six meters in height were then installed in the solar field in several hundred meter long rows of parabolic troughs. All the collectors in the solar field automatically and permanently track the sun. The Kuraymat location features average solar irradiation of more than 2,400 kilowatt hours per square meter and year. The solar field collects this solar energy by means of more than 53,000 parabolic mirrors with an overall surface of more than 130,000 square meters.