csp today usa 2012 award nominations · csp today usa 2012 award nominations ... fichtner solar ......

CSP Today USA, Las Vegas (June 27‐28th)

FC Business Intelligence Ltd |CSP Today USA Awards 2012 1

CSPTodayUSA2012AwardNominations

CONTENTS PAGE Page Number

Award Nominations 1: “CSP Technology and Supplier Award 2012”

List the nominations for each page:

NOVATEC Solar 5

HITITE Solar Energy 6

Solaflect Energy 7

SCHOTT Solar CSP, Inc. 8

SKF Group 10

Lointek USA 13

Temad 14

Foster Wheeler 15

Flowserve 16

Rioglass 18



Siemens STE 18

Heliofocus 19

LESER 22

Visionary Industrial Insulation 23

Award Nominations 2: "CSP Engineering Performance Award 2012"


AG Ingeniería 24

ACS Cobra 26

Betchel 27

AGES 28

Fichtner Solar 28



Award Nominations 3: "CSP Dispachability Solution Award 2012"


AREVA Solar 32

Abengoa 34

Abantia 35

Halotechnics 37

Terrafore, Inc. 38

US Solar Thermal Storage LLC 40

BrightSource Energy 43

FRANCem 45

Torresol Energy 46

SENER 47



Award Nominations 4: "Responsible Business Award 2012"


Solar Reserve 48

BrightSource Energy 51

Synergy international Int. 55

NestEra 56

Abengoa 57



Award Nominations 1: “CSP Technology and Supplier Award 2012”


NOVATEC Solar

1. Describe the technology or component you offer and why you believe this company deserves the award:

Novatec Solar is a leading technology provider and original equipment manufacturer of efficient, low cost direct solar steam generators (solar boilers) based on Fresnel collector technology. Novatec Solar’s proven solar field technology generates steam with temperatures up to 500°C. The company deserves the award because of its constant effort in reducing the cost and gaining competitive advantage for CSP in general and its Fresnel collector technology, driven by technical innovation.

2. Explain how R&D, innovation and cost reduction efforts have been made by the company: In March 2009, Novatec Solar has commissioned PE 1, a 1.4 MW demonstration plant based on Fresnel collector technology. It was the world’s first plant based on direct steam generation connected to a public grid. In April 2010, Novatec Solar has started the construction of the world’s largest Fresnel based power station Puerto Errado 2. The 30 MWel plant comprises a solar boiler with a mirror surface of 302,000m2. The plant is currently in the final commissioning phase. In September 2011, Novatec Solar has achieved to generate superheated steam with temperatures above 500°C at its demonstration plant Puerto Errado 1 in Spain. The high temperatures allow the use of standard turbines and will lead to a power block efficiency of 38%. Further cost reduction potential despite the direct steam generation is seen in the improvement of the optical components, the high level of prefabrication of the solar field key components, automated cleaning with waterless robots and the economies of scale. Further development has started on a storage solution for the Novatec Fresnel collector.



3. Demonstrate how this technology/component has made a positive impact in a project?:

No answer. Judge Comments:

HITITE Solar Energy

1. Describe the technology or component you offer and why you believe this company deserves the award: By redesigning Parabolic Solar Trough structure, HITTITE has managed to keep the Heat Receiver stationary, eliminating all flexible and moving piping connections. This has eliminated the obstacles for Direct Steam Generation. As known well, DSG significantly reduces costs (HTF, Heat Exchangers, etc.) and improves thermodynamic efficiency. 2‐ By redesigning the Heat Receiver, HITTITE has eliminated the use of glass‐to‐metal welding. In addition, the vacuum length of the HITTITE Heat Receiver is 48m, allowing it to be monitored and maintained on continuous bases. Also this design allows the replacement of damaged heat receiver parts (such as broken glass tubes) without having to replace the entire heat receiver as all others must do. All heat receiver maintenance work can be done at the field. 3‐ HITTITE replaced costly parabolic glass mirror pannels by pasting strips of flat glass mirrors on accurately shaped parabolic surfaces. This significantly reduces costs while eliminates mirror breakage (HITTITE workers walk on these parabolic mirror pannels to servis the receiver, and mirrors do not break. 4‐ HITTITE hass added a Counterweight concept to its parabolic structure to reduce its costs significantly and allowing the use of variable speed DC electric motor to achieve low cost and very accurate solar tracking. (1/2 Horspower DC motor is used to achieve continuous solar tracking of 48m by 6m parabolic trough unit.) 5‐ HITTITE has designed a very unique Heat Storage system specifically for DSG applications.



6‐ HITTITE water treatment & desalinization technology operates by utilizing low temperature waste heat. It has won the DM2006 Competition organized by World Bank and Bill Gates Foundation. HITTITE uses this to condense the waste steam from turbines while siultaneously treating source water for the DSG solar field. This results in large quantities of treated water as a by product for sale while eleminating costly steam condensing (wet or dry towers).

2. Explain how R&D, innovation and cost reduction efforts have been made by the company:

During the past three years HITTITE has installed four consequative pilots to test and improve its designs. At the end of this non‐publisized work, HITTITE has conducted a 30 year equivalet Accelerated Life Test and shared all this work with world renown national labaratories (CIEMAT of Spain, DLR of Germany, NREL of USA DOE and TUBITAK of Turkey). On December 2011, HITTITE was invited to install a combined application of its technologies (DSG Solar Field, Heat Storage, Water Treatment) at the SolarTAC project in Denver, Colorado. The first unit will be completed by mid May 2012 to demonstrate DSG. Rest of the project will be completed by fall 2012.

3. Demonstrate how this technology/component has made a positive impact in a project?: No answer. Judge Comments:

Solaflect Energy




Solaflect Energy's suspension heliostat is a new model of heliostat that is the most material and cost efficient heliostat design available. Since its public introduction in 2011, new design iterations have shown that an additional 34% of the steel used per square meter can be eliminated. The current design now uses only 6.25 kilograms of structural steel per square meter of mirror, a 77% reduction compared to the reference case of the ATS heliostat used by Sandia National Laboratories (USA). This is a significant reduction even adjusting for heliostat size, and is well below any published numbers for the structural steel usage per square meter of heliostat mirror area.

2. Explain how R&D, innovation and cost reduction efforts have been made by the company: It is impossible to reach heliostat cost targets of $100 per square meter or less with the quantities of steel used in traditional designs. The reference case of the ATS heliostat uses 27 kilograms of structural steel per square meter of mirror, which would cost about $60 per square meter in very high volume production. This is an absolute impediment to reaching cost goals to make CSP grid competitive. By redesigning the heliostat based on the design principles of suspension bridges, as opposed to the much less efficient truss bridge used as the model for traditional heliostats, major improvements in material efficiency have been made possible. Multiple high wind test sites have proven that this design is feasible and robust in addition to efficient.

3. Demonstrate how this technology/component has made a positive impact in a project?: No answer Judge Comments:

SCHOTT Solar CSP, Inc.




Schott Solar CSP is the leading solar thermal receiver manufacturer and supplier in the world. As of Summer 2011more than 700,000 SCHOTT PTR® 70 receivers have been delivered to power plants worldwide. By introducing a new generation of PTR® 70 receivers that raise efficiency and reduce the cost of electricity generation in large‐scale solar power plants, SCHOTT Solar CSP has this year reinforced its role as the premier manufacturer of high‐quality receivers and cemented the company’s long‐standing position as the market and technology leader.

2. Explain how R&D, innovation and cost reduction efforts have been made by the company: The receiver, being the key component of a CSP plant, has a decisive influence on the overall efficiency of the plant. Crucial for the performance of the receiver are the optical properties of the absorber coating. SCHOTT Solar CSP has succeeded in increasing the absorption rate of its new generation of PTR® 70 receivers to over 95.5%. At the same time, the emission level of the heat radiation is reduced to under 9.5%. Improvements to the patented compact bellow design in the new PTR® 70 further add to the absorption capacity of the receiver by increasing the active aperture area to more than 96.7% of the total area. When used in conjunction with SCHOTT Solar CSP's patented new shields with reflector disks, the active length is effectively increased even further. In winter time an additional optical gain of up to 2.5% is obtained by use of these shields, while the average annual optical gain is 1.2%. The sum effect of these innovations is a reduced overall operational cost of the power plant as well as an improved efficiency. Besides performance, the durability of the receivers is also vital to the economic success of a solar thermal power plant. To ensure that heat losses remain low even after many years of operation, SCHOTT Solar CSP has developed noble gas capsules that are to be integrated into the vacuum region of the receivers and may be opened at any time during the service life of the power plant. Noble gas helps keep heat losses permanently low and allows for the receivers to continue to be operated in a highly efficient manner even later in the life cycle of the power plant. The noble gas capsule can be considered as a ‘lifetime insurance’ for parabolic trough solar receivers, mitigating hydrogen permeation related efficiency reductions and facilitating long‐term plant profitability without the necessity of receiver replacement. The innovative product design of SCHOTT Solar CSP receivers accordingly sets today’s standards in terms of performance and durability and creates an important foundation to further increase the performance of CSP plants in the future. For example, the solar field shall one day generate steam directly or



use molten salts instead of synthetic oil. The use of alternative heat transfer fluids aims at operating the steam process at temperatures of at least 500°C, leading to higher overall efficiencies. Another possibility to bring the costs of solar energy down is the development of solar field designs with larger components. To be prepared for these forward‐looking developments, SCHOTT Solar CSP is already delivering prototype quantities of larger PTR® 80 and PTR® 90 receivers.

3. Demonstrate how this technology/component has made a positive impact in a project?: No answer. Judge Comments:

SKF Group


In this case it’s not only a technology or a component; it’s more the combination of both to track the sun in an environmental friendly way to power this beautiful planet. During the last years SKF developed a wide range of environmental friendly (electro‐) mechanical products based on SKF's BeyondZero program especially for CSP applications like heliostats. The BeyondZero initiative is SKF’s contribution to our planet where we continuously minimize the negative impacts on the environment from our operations AND at the same time we aim to help our customers in achieving environmental performance improvement by maximizing the environmental performance of our products and solutions. We work continuously and intensely to develop a portfolio of products, solutions and services to help our customers in energy efficiency with quantified examples. We offer our customers the power of engineering knowledge through innovation and technologies and at the same time we help to protect the environment.



After years of customer needs observation SKF started to develop and supply as a “one stop shop” all needed components to 1. … hold the enormous mirrors and handle the vast loads (bearings) 2. … do the high accurate elevation movement (special linear actuators) 3. … do a highly precise azimuth movement (special worm gears) SKF has been founded as a Swedish ball bearing company more than 100 years ago. With all the experience SKF invented integrated spherical plain bearing assemblies accommodate high load carrying capabilities and enable the solar installations to track the sun precisely while providing a smooth continuous movement. Due to their specific product characteristics, robustness, and maintenance‐free capabilities, SKF’s sealed spherical plain bearing assemblies are designed to withstand severe outdoor environments for years without any service. Electromechanical sub‐systems like SKF’s solar linear actuators and solar rotary drives (worm gears) are also designed especially for solar requirements. The fully integrated solutions provide the necessary stiffness, mechanical movement and torque to allow the heliostats to accurately track the sun in an environmentally sustainable manner. All drives are designed for up to 20 years lifetime and are also virtually maintenance free. To close the loop and to come back to the first sentences: SKF’s solar products do a great job like it is expected in CSP. But the real highlight we would like to emphasize is that no chance for any contamination is given. All mechanical parts work without any lubrication or they are greased and sealed for life. SKF deserves the CSP Technology and Supplier Award because the companies aim was not only to fulfill requirements from the technical point of view. SKF’s goal was much higher: We wanted to fulfill also mother earth’s requirements which means for us to minimize the negative impacts on the environment during the tracking process. And this target has been exceeded. There is NO negative impact on the environment anymore and mankind can “harvest” this kind of renewable energy by tracking the sun in an environmental friendly way. http://www.skf.com/files/901309.pdf On page 29 you’ll find just one good example of our partnership with SolFocus. In CSP we have partnerships with FLAGSOL, FLABEG, NEM, BrightSource,



(Solar Millennium on heliostats),http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynsvZyzAE58. This is our latest video.

2. Explain how R&D, innovation and cost reduction efforts have been made by the company: Here our most important message is that we developed our products especially for solar while a lot of competitors just take their standard bearings and drives and call them “solar xx”. We did a lot of research in terms of tribology and had a lot of open discussions with customers during CSP workshops about their experiences and “pains”. We worked in a global network of engineers from our research centers; mainly our European Engineering Research Center (http://www.skf.com/portal/skf_us/home/services?contentId=082372&lang=en), North American Technical Center (http://www.skf.com/portal/skf_us/home/services?contentId=082375&lang=en), and from our factory experts worldwide. A dedicated team of engineers worked over months on the perfect solutions in terms of bearings, linear actuators and rotary drives to develop the ideal combination of tracking components. During this period a business development team worked on a close relationship (based on trust) with potential customers. Especially the environmental friendly aspect (BeyondZero initiative ‐> NO maintenance, NO grease loss) of SKF’s solutions is a unique selling point. Regarding cost reduction an “Integrated Cost Reduction Team” worked right from the beginning on finding the perfect sources for the components (bearings, grease, seals, …). Therefore a lot of components for SKF’s solar drives come from its own automotive division (high volume, high quality ‐> high learning curve) and in addition manufacturing processes were optimized by a Six Sigma Task Force. Furthermore for CSP plant operators the total cost of ownership are much lower because the maintenance free products require no downtime for part changes or relubrication. Combining robust design, easy installation, virtually maintenance‐free operation and reduced downtime, SKF products reduce solar power generation costs while increasing productivity and profitability.

3. Demonstrate how this technology/component has made a positive impact in a project?: No answer.



Judge Comments:

Lointek USA


Lointek´s SGS (Steam Generation System) for thermal central tower CSP plants. Lointek’s SGS system is a collection of special shell‐tube heat exchangers‐‐feed water pre‐heater, steam generator, super‐heater and re‐heater‐‐that receive solar energy from a central tower transported by the molten salts, and converts it into high quality steam for turbine electricity production. SGS is designed to work with molten salts fluid temperatures up to 600 ºC (1.112 ºF) and molten salts fluid pressures up to 150 bar (2,18 ksi). Lointek has 70% market share in Spain and 30% world‐wide for thermo‐solar steam generation systems. We have manufactured the SGS for 34 plants and our equipment has historically maintained optimal levels of temperature, pressure and flow, delivering maximum plant efficiency. Thanks to the long experience gained working with plants in operation, Lointek has optimized each particular SGS design in order to adapt them to their real start‐up transient working conditions, thus providing 100% equipment availability for steam production. Lointek SGS system has not reported any plant shut‐down related problem for the last 3 years. Concentrated solar thermal power plants have radical daily fluctuations. Lointek’s SGS provides a fast heating ramp of over 10 ºC per minute, for both steam and molten salts, thus accelerating plant start‐up and improving plant efficiency. Lointek’s design and manufacturing processes allow SGS construction with cost‐effective, high quality materials and labor, resulting in superior performance.




Since 1997, our experienced R&D department and personnel deliver reliable solutions, from design to installation. Lointek’s engineers continue to gather extensive knowledge by commissioning and operating reliable and cost‐effective concentrated solar thermal power plants. Our experience provides our customers with high‐quality steam, containing solids/salt far below standard parameters.

3. Demonstrate how this technology/component has made a positive impact in a project?: After a thorough vetting by a prominent research & development company, our product was specified in for the power tower associated piping and vessel being designed for the Tonopah, Nevada CSP facility. By containing heat losses beyond what would be expected with a conventional insulation product, our ESLIN product will help this facility to be as energy efficient as possible. This additional energy efficiency may help prove the viability of the CSP technology being used. Judge Comments:

Temad


Extraction of narcotics from confiscated narcotics and converting them to legally prescribed medications.

2. Explain how R&D, innovation and cost reduction efforts have been made by the company: Recruiting highly educated specialists in a possible facilitated research labs, pilot plant and scale up facilities to produce for the national and international market.



3. Demonstrate how this technology/component has made a positive impact in a project?:

No answer. Judge Comments:

Foster Wheeler


A compact "Thermal Transfer Island " that is cost effective and easier to construct.

2. Explain how R&D, innovation and cost reduction efforts have been made by the company: Foster Wheeler has developed an intergrated Evaporator / Boiler that produces high quality steam. Very important for the steam turbine.

3. Demonstrate how this technology/component has made a positive impact in a project?: SHAMS 1 heat exchange equipment, and the boiler island concept, were purchased from Foster Wheeler. The success of that project to date speaks for itself. Judge Comments:



Flowserve


Flowserve's supply of special designed VTP pumps for MS (molten salt applications) currently in service at several parabolic solar plants (where storage is applied)in Spain and a solar tower plant (Gemasolar, also in Spain). Flowserve values being a trusted partner to our customers, and we work hard to achieve solutions that meet their flow control needs in any field, including alternative energy. Our sustainability commitment starts by building products that are designed to last, achieving balance between production and consumption. We move, control and protect the flow of materials in some of the world's most critical industries – and Flowserve technology is in high demand in the field of renewable and alternative energy. In January 2012, Tonopah Solar Energy, LLC, enlisted Flowserve to provide pumps for their Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project. Located near Tonopah, Nevada, this concentrated solar power plant utilizes mirrors to focus the sun’s energy on a central receiver that sits atop a tower. The 110‐megawatt solar energy project’s “molten salt power tower” design captures and stores the sun’s thermal energy. The liquid molten salt, which is pumped to the receiver atop the tower where it captures the thermal energy, is then piped down to tanks that store the energy until it’s needed. The stored heat is then used to generate steam to power a standard steam turbine and generate electricity. This innovative solar power plant is expected to generate more than 500,000 megawatt hours per year, enough to supply electricity to more than 75,000 homes when it comes online in 2013. Since April 2011, Flowserve pumps have helped power a first‐of‐its‐kind solar power plant in the Andalucia region of Spain. The 19.9 megawatt Gemasolar power plant uses seven Flowserve vertical turbine pumps (VTPs) to collect solar energy, along with Flowserve dry gas fluid sealing systems, making it the world’s first commercial concentrated solar power plant that uses molten salt as the heat transfer fluid. With the innovative use of molten salt, electricity can be generated 24 hours a day for months at a time. In addition, the plant utilizes a central tower receiver with thermal storage capabilities allowing for energy production for up to 15 hours without sunlight. For residents in this region of Spain, this cutting‐edge power plant is not only breaking barriers of technology in their backyard, but it also helps support the region’s power supply by supplying electricity to 25,000 nearby homes. Similar to other solar



power plants, the Gemasolar plant incorporates 2,650 large, sun‐tracking heliostats (mirrors) to focus sunlight on the top of a centrally‐located tower. The solar energy heats molten salt in excess of 500°C (932°F). When combined with high pressure, the molten salt produces super‐heated steam, increasing the plant’s efficiency. Additionally, low pump submergence allows the liquid level to be drawn down farther in the storage tanks for greater energy generation. In the future, this power plant is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 30,000 tonnes annually. Flowserve is proud to play an integral role in unique applications that are not only breaking the barriers of technology, but also forging new paths for energy production in a world looking for better, more efficient and environmentally friendly energy solutions.

2. Explain how R&D, innovation and cost reduction efforts have been made by the company: Flowserve innovative VTP design promises to provide a service life equal to the solar plant life with proper maintanence. The truly unique pump design was based on Flowserve history of pumps used for service such as molten metals during the 1950‐1980. Flowserve provided molten salt VTP to Sandia Labs in 1985 for some of the first initial test at high temperatures and high pressure for the solat plant being built today in Spain and the USA. Many hours of engineering go into every VTP supplied in molten salt services. Considerations are given for pumps to accommodate temperature up 565C and future temperatures to 800C and pump lengths beyong 50 feet long and requirements to provide pressure to molten salt heat receivers at the top of a 600 foot tower. With the knowledge that a solar tower plant utilizing molten salt pumps will not provide the electrical output if the molten salt pumps do not function, Flowserve has provide the leading flow technology and pump reliability to offer solutions for this unique and critical molten salt application.

3. Demonstrate how this technology/component has made a positive impact in a project?: After a thorough vetting by a prominent research & development company, our product was specified in for the power tower associated piping and vessel being designed for the Tonopah, Nevada CSP facility. By containing heat losses beyond what would be expected with a conventional insulation product, our ESLIN product will help this facility to be as energy efficient as possible. This additional energy efficiency may help prove the viability of the CSP technology being used.



Judge Comments:

Rioglass


We are a technology investor.

2. Explain how R&D, innovation and cost reduction efforts have been made by the company: Tempered glass provide very low breakage rates and high safety. Innovative product for Heliostats.


Siemens STE




UVAC 2010 solar receiver. SunField LP solar field: Siemens has maintained market leadership in the solar receiver market, with the most sales over the most recent period, supplying most of the known projects in India. Also, Siemens is completing the construction of 4 solar fields in Spain, including its Lebrija project which has already been connected to the Spanish grid.

2. Explain how R&D, innovation and cost reduction efforts have been made by the company: The UVAC 2010 has benefited from consistent R&D efforts to improve the output and efficiency of the product ‐ for example, through increasing the aperture (active area). In addition, procurement efforts and process improvements had succeeded in creating a significant reduction to the cost of the UVAC 2010, which itself constitutes about 8% of the total CAPEX for the solar field. Quality and durability improvements in the product design ensure that the UVAC 2010 generates maximum heat year after year, without breakage in the field, thus reducing operators' O & M costs.


Heliofocus




HelioFocus developed the HelioBooster™ ‐ a boosting system that comprises of a large parabolic dish (500m²), volumetric receiver and a heat transmission system. This system is able to produce hot air at temperatures up to 1000°c. The HelioBooster™ solution is driving hot air at temperature of up to 700°c from an array of dishes to a centralized pressurized air to steam heat exchanger system that produces High temperature stable steam up to 620 °c, identical to the Heat Recovery Steam Generator (“HRSG”) system of a Combined Cycle (“CC”) power plant or a Coal power plant Boiler supplying the steam cycle main steam line. The HelioBooster has 3 technological benefits that make him unique and along with the environmental advantages making it a wining solution for the power plant. The advantages are: Efficiency ‐ Thermodynamic basics show that the only way to reach maximal thermal efficiency is to raise the working temperature. The only way to raise the temperature is to concentrate! HelioBooster™ has the highest concentration ratio – up to 1:2000. The HelioBooster™ can reach 650°C and have more than 70% thermal output efficiency in total, combined with the real dual axis tracking system, these key points lead to a typical overall annual efficiency (Radiation to electricity) of 25%. LCOE ‐ key segments are CAPEX and OPEX. HelioFocus’ low CAPEX is a combination of the installed capacity low cost and the lowest foot print that reduces land and civil engineering costs, compared to other solar technologies. Low OPEX also lies in minimum cleaning water usage and ambient air usage as Heat Transfer Fluid (HTF). HelioFocus technology extracts the highest annual kWh electricity output per installed kW, compared to any other CSP technology. Output stability ‐ The HelioBooster™ system, has a real dual axis tracking effect which induces stable levels of power. In addition, Boosting systems does not require thermal storage ‐a simple intermediate thermal energy capacitor is used to maintain output stability and compensate for DNI fluctuations. Environmental advantages: The HelioBooster™ has the most lenient terrain requirements, allowing plant construction on a slope of up to 5% and deployment on fragmented land. The high efficiency results in minimal land usage and minimal civil engineering works. In addition to no usage of oil as HTF, the HelioBooster™ has minimal impact on the environment. Power plant advantages: The HelioBooster™ modular design allows scalable deployment according to plant location and needs. The broad steam temperature range enables to accommodate the power plant's unique demands HelioFocus conducted a feasibility study in China .HelioFocus, The Israeli utility and one of the largest



Chinese utility worked together to examine what would be the most effective CSP technology in China. A coal power plant was selected in North West China and an annual electricity net output of 20,600MWh was defined. The following data reflects the results of this feasibility study: Land Area ‐ Dish requires 30% less land area than Trough, 40% less than Fresnel and less than twice the size tower required. Annual efficiency ‐ Due to the concentration ratio, the 2 axis tracking and the high temperature, Dish reached to 20.2% annual efficiency, Trough 10.7%, Tower 8.1% and Fresnel 6.2%. Installed Cost ‐ Dish 40M$, Trough 56M$, Tower 76M$ and Fresnel 61M$. The land footprint to achieve the same annual electricity output was the smallest when using dish technology in China. The key reasons are exactly the advantages mentioned above: Dual axis tracking system and 1:2000 concentration ratios.

2. Explain how R&D, innovation and cost reduction efforts have been made by the company: There are few examples for large scale dish concentrators so far. In fact, just 400 and 500 m² dish prototypes have been built. Many smaller sized dishes (usually 15‐100 m²) are known. The design of these units covers a very broad band both in overall system concepts and in any component. Steel structures are bolted together form welded parts and subsystems in most cases. Few designs that are already closer to large scale production, have applied stamped parts as substrates for the glass mirrors, with one small sized concentrator for the concentrator structure as well. For a large concentrator, use of stamped parts makes little sense due to the limitation of press size, tooling cost and too low part count. The design effort will therefore concentrate on making the “classic” approach more cost‐effective. Parabolic trough collectors can be taken as reference for mass fabrication of solar concentrators: Self‐supporting slumped glass mirrors are a well established standard. With the HelioFocus prototype, this has been adopted for a dish concentrator for the first time. The main challenge in developing high concentration systems is the ability to produce a relatively low cost system, achieving the required cost effective solution.LCOE (Levelized cost of electricity) is driven directly from the following three factors:



•CAPEX (capital project installation costs). •OPEX (Annual operational and maintenance costs) •Performance (overall annual produced electricity in kWh). HelioFocus addressed these three segments ‐ in the project installed costs, we have managed to dramatically reduce the $/installed project (i.e. solar field size needed for a kW) and the O&M costs (i.e. amount of water used to clean mirrors). Performance wise, the fact that HelioFocus tracks the sun in two axis and harness the sun in 1:2000 concentration ratio, highly contribute to this produced kWh electricity (LCOE) cost reduction results ‐ we can produce more kWh per kW installed than any other CSP technology, working at higher efficiencies, achieving grid parity.


LESER


The component is a specially designed safety relief valve which protects the collector tubes in parabolic trough plants from bursting in case of malfunction and thus protect valuable customer equipment.




In order to work reliably with heat transfer fluid under high temperatures and high back pressures, the design of the valve has been completely adapted. E.g. welding connections instead of threaded of flanged connections, backpressure‐compensating bellows, special body and sealing materials. Furthermore, the special CSP configuration was standardized to ensure easy ordering and short lead times.

3. Demonstrate how this technology/component has made a positive impact in a project?: The design of the LESER CSP valve makes it possible to protect the expensive collector tubes and thus increases plant reliability. Almost 3000 valves are in use worldwide. Judge Comments:

Visionary Industrial Insulation


In the CSP industry, millions of $$$ are spent for state‐of‐the‐art CSP equipment designed to extract as much heat as possible from the sun's rays. It is critical that we also maintain that heat and convert as much of it as possible into usable electrical energy. Maintaining that heat is accomplished by using state‐of‐the‐art insulation products that will be durable, highly efficient, easy to install and able to fully withstand (without degradation), the relatively high temperatures associated with CSP thermal fluids.




Our ESLIN industrial insulation is a revolutionary new product that reduces heat losses by up to 50% over other commonly used insulation products. It is formed via a patented manufacturing process that combines e‐glass needled mat with proprietary inorganic binder materials and is mandrel‐wound into a high density pipe cover or board material that is unbreakable, reusable, water‐resistant, highly compressive resistant, and will not degrade or suffer performance losses after exposure to temperatures as high as 1400F (760C).


Award Nominations 2: "CSP Engineering Performance Award 2012"


AG Ingeniería

1. Describe the engineering process you offer and why you believe this company deserves the award ‐ please state clear case studies that justify this award:



AG Ingeniería specialises in designing power stations, biofuels production plants and industrial plants, participating in the conceptual and basic engineering stage through to the integral implementation of the detailed engineering. It has a multidisciplinary technical team that is complemented with experienced personnel in managing engineering projects, which is perfectly adapted to satisfy the needs of the client and the project. AG provides the calculations and designs required to identify and acquire the systems, structures, equipment and components needed to construct and assemble industrial plants and power stations. The drafting of construction plans in every discipline – mechanical, process, electrical, instrumentation, control and civil engineering – is a task to which AG applies cutting edge technology and uses highly qualified personnel. AG is strongly committed to its clients and the quality of its work. Major engineering projects, such as those carried out by AG, involve multiple tasks that must be coordinated based on common objectives and strategies in order to meet the established deadlines and execution requirements. AG uses project planning and a 3D model of the plant as basic management tools for simultaneously performing all these activities, keeping costs and established deadlines under control.


AG Ingeniería is owned by Abengoa (90%) and Ghenova (10%) and carries out integral engineering projects for industrial electricity generation plants based on Renewable Energy (RE) and first and second generation bioethanol production plants. The foundations of AG Ingeniería are its human team, comprised of more than 230 high qualified professionals; its portfolio of projects, which includes the largest solar‐thermal plants in the world; and acommitment to sustainable development, which runs through each and every one of its processes. With its clear international strategy, AG currently has centres in the USA, Mexico, India and Spain, although a large part of its workforce also travels abroad to participate in projects around the world (Arab Emirates, South Africa, USA, Mexico, Spain and Algeria, among other countries). AG is also part of a network of engineering firms with Energoprojekt Gliwice (Poland) and SDI (Chile), all of which belong to Abener. These combined companies are capable of offering clients a global service in terms of knowledge and locations.

3. Demonstrate the positive impact of the engineering in a project:



In 2011, AG significantly increased its capacity and activity levels from €5.6 million in 2010, to €13.8 million. This growth came from diversifying its products and markets. For AG, sustainability is not an added value, but one of the values that gives meaning to its activity. AG is committed to providing innovative solutions that respect the natural environment and promote its conservation.

Judge Comments:

ACS Cobra


Because ACS Cobra is an engineering services provider. ACS Cobra is engaged in providing engineering, operations, installation and maintenance services for Energy and water distribution networks, Telecommunications, Railways, Industrial systems, and Energy projects.

2. Explain how R&D, innovation and cost reduction efforts have been made by the company: ACS Cobra takes large energy projects on a turnkey basis and in other formats including combined‐cycle plants, coal‐burning plants, cogeneration, diesel plants, desalination plants, natural gas storage and terminals. In addition, the company provides engineering, procurement and construction services for thermal power generation plants, desalination plants and gas and petrochemical plants.


The company has an extensive network of 200 offices in Spain and 60 in abroad such as the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania.



Judge Comments:

Betchel


From our pioneering work on Hoover Dam in the 1930s to our present work on modern rail projects in the UK, Bechtel has been synonymous with engineering excellence. Innovation is perhaps the central feature of Bechtel’s engineering work. On a typical engineering project, novel and puzzling situations have a way of cropping up constantly. And the ability to respond creatively to these challenges—to innovate—can spell the difference between success and failure.

2. Explain how R&D, innovation and cost reduction efforts have been made by the company: We believe that our strength as an engineering innovator is reflected not in the number of important patents our people hold, nor in the number of technical papers they publish. Rather, our strength as an innovator is reflected in the sum total of successful engineering projects completed.


Bechtel’s commitment to sustainability means supporting our customers in meeting government, community, and financing requirements for sustainability.

Judge Comments:



AGES


Our company American Generating Energy Solutions use vacuum tube solar collectors to power our ammonia expander engine in a closed cycle to operate a high efficiency electric producing generator to produce power in sizes for home, light commercial, and industrial usage.

2. Explain how R&D, innovation and cost reduction efforts have been made by the company: If operated on Heat by a natural gas generator can produce electricity at the home site for 1/3 the cost of electricity from a central utility.


In Prototype stages only because of lack of development capital.

Judge Comments:

Fichtner Solar


In the FichtnerSolar was the first engineering company to work on the ISCC technology and did pioneering work for this technology. Already in 1995 a first feasibility study for integrating solar heat from CSP into a combined cycle power plant to form an ISCC had been done for KfW for the Mathania project in Rajasthan, India.



In 1997 Georg Brakmann (the founder and Managing Director of FichtnerSolar) together with other European companies formed ESTIA (the European Solar Thermal Industry Association) and became its first President. In this position he lobbied extensively with Worldbank for the ISCC technology. In 1998 the Worldbank adopted the GEF program, sponsoring four ISCC projects with an amount of 50 million US$ each. As soon as this program had been announced, opponents to the technology questioned the thermodynamic process of ISCC; thereupon Worldbank considered cancelling the GEF program. This became known in the CSP industry as the “ISCC‐crises”. In a debate with the opponents to the ISCC technology in front of Worldbank and KfW, Georg Brakmann could prove that his innovative way of integrating solar heat into the thermodynamic process of a combined cycle power plant is sound and increases overall efficiency and reduces the total investment and operating cost. This ended the “ISCC‐crisis” and in the following Worldbank tendered the engineering for the four ISCC projects. These tenders drew an immense interest from many Engineering companies worldwide; nevertheless FichtnerSolar did win the international competitive bidding for three of these four projects. FichtnerSolar performed the complete engineering services starting with feasibility studies, site investigations, collecting and evaluating solar irradiation data, elaborating a performance model to calculate the annual electricity generation capabilities and to optimize the various systems and parameters of the plants. FichtnerSolar also performed the economic, financial and institutional analysis and worked out innovative ways how to properly allocate the solar and the fossil portions of the electricity in an ISCC. Such an allocation of the solar and the fossil shares is extremely important when calculating the value of the integration and its amount of CO2 emissions being avoided and the grants which Worldbank or other sponsors are willing to pay for it. Prior to this, no generally agreed upon methodology for properly allocating fossil and solar generated electricity existed. Such a methodology had to be worked out and to be gotten accepted by the different interest groups. In the next phase FichtnerSolar worked out detailed design reports and elaborated specifications and tender documents for EPC‐contractors, containing detailed contractual conditions and plants’ acceptance and performance criteria. In the case of the ISCC Kuraymat for Egypt, FichtnerSolar tendered the plant in two lots, the combined cycle island and the solar island and specified the interface criteria. Upon receipt of bids from EPC contractors,



FichtnerSolar evaluated the bids and recommended the winning bidders to the Owners of the plants and to Worldbank. After their approval FichtnerSolar negotiated the EPC contracts, which were then signed by the Owners and the EPC contractors. During the detailed engineering, procurement, construction, erection and commissioning of the ISCC plants, FichtnerSolar was engaged as Owner’s Engineer and checked and supervised the work of the EPC contractors and certified compliance with contractual obligations for release of invoices and for final acceptance of plant performance. The ISCC plants of Ain Beni Mathar in Morocco and Kuraymat in Egypt have been successfully in commercial operation since late 2010 / early 2011 and FichtnerSolar continues to provide technical assistance to the Owners of the plants during the warranty period and for operational and maintenance questions. FichtnerSolar is the world’s leading engineering company for CSP technology. Before the 2007 / 2008 boom in CSP projects, FichtnerSolar participated in more than 70% of all CSP project developments worldwide. FichtnerSolar performed engineering services for 30 CSP projects in 15 countries on six continents. The investment volume of its consulted projects exceeds six billion euro, thereof two billion euro for already completed CSP projects. For further details please also review the CSP Today interview (“Paving the way for ISCC: FichtnerSolar”) of 16 January 2012, which can be found in the internet at: http://social.csptoday.com/technology/paving‐way‐iscc‐fichtner‐solar .

2. Explain how R&D, innovation and cost reduction efforts have been made by the company: FichtnerSolar was the first engineering company to work on the ISCC technology and did pioneering work for this technology. Already in 1995 a first feasibility study for integrating solar heat into a combined cycle power plant to form an ISCC had been done for KfW for the Mathania project in Rajasthan, India. FichtnerSolar established an innovative thermodynamic cycle for the ISCC which resulted in overall cost reduction and efficiency improvements. This innovative integration of solar heat into a combined cycle power plant employed by FichtnerSolar and defended in front of Worldbank and KfW for the solution of the “ISCC crisis” resulted in the continuation of the GEF program to sponsor the establishment of ISCC projects.



FichtnerSolar worked out innovative ways how to properly allocate the solar and the fossil portion of the electricity in an ISCC. Such an allocation of the solar and the fossil share is extremely important when calculating the value of the integration and its amount of CO2 emissions being saved and the grant which Worldbank or other sponsors are willing to pay for it. Prior to this, no generally agreed upon methodology for properly allocating fossil and solar generated electricity existed. Such a methodology had to be worked out and to be gotten accepted by the different interest groups. FichtnerSolar was engineering partner in the R&D consortium which developed the EuroTrough solar parabolic trough collector. This collector design has been used successfully in many CSP plants, including AndaSol, Kuraymat and Ain Beni Mathar. FichtnerSolar established its own solar performance model SOLPRO, which is used to calculate the hourly performance of solar power plants and to optimize the size of different components (solar field, storage, gas and steam turbine).


The ISCC projects Kuraymat and Ain Beni Mathar exist due to Georg Brakmann’s lobbying effort with Worldbank and his solution of the “ISCC‐crisis”. FichtnerSolar accompanied these two ISCC projects from the initial lobbying through the studies, engineering, construction, commissioning and successful commercial operation. FichtnerSolar was engineering partner in the R&D consortium which developed the EuroTrough solar parabolic trough collector. This collector design has been used successfully in many CSP projects, including AndaSol, Kuraymat and Ain Beni Mathar.

Judge Comments:



Award Nominations 3: "CSP Dispachability Solution Award 2012"


AREVA Solar

1. Describe the nature of the technology/project and what increased dispatchability solution it provides:

AREVA Solar’s Compact Linear Fresnel Reflector (CLFR) superheated solar steam generators (SSGs) represent the state of the art technology for solar steam production and dispatchability, for standalone hybrid power generation and power augmentation of fossil‐fired power plants. CLFR uses Direct Steam Generation (DSG) and easily integrates directly into the steam cycle of fossil fuel plants, such as coal‐fired and natural gas‐fired combined‐cycle power plants, as well as geothermal and biomass plants. These solar augmentation or “boost” projects can increase the output of existing plants without added emissions, or can conserve fuel. Because SSGs seamlessly integrate with a fossil‐fired unit, the CLFR SSGs can deliver energy during peak daylight hours, with the fossil unit ensuring energy delivery during non‐peak periods for full dispatchability. AREVA Solar’s CLFR technology is also designed for new solar thermal hybrid power plants, whereby a new solar thermal power plant is designed with a natural gas boiler back‐up system. And, the higher pressures and temperatures available from CLFR technology offer a significant benefit from an integration perspective, resulting in lower costs and higher efficiencies. Therefore, AREVA Solar’s CLFR DSG is the most attractive option on the market for hybrid solar/fossil‐fired power plants. For instance, in Arizona, Tucson Electric Power’s Sundt Solar Boost Project will use AREVA’s CLFR SSGs to produce up to 5 megawatts (MW) of power during peak demand periods without added emissions at its coal/natural gas unit ‐ preventing the burning of 46 million cubic feet of natural gas, or 3,600 tons of coal—and at costs lower than PV. And, in Australia, CS Energy will add a 44 MW solar augmentation project to its 750 MW coal‐fired Kogan Creek Power Station, allowing CS Energy to also increase the amount of electricity produced during peak solar conditions with AREVA’s CLFR SSGs. In both cases, the CLFR DSG addition will help improve dispatchability for each respective grid.



To date, CLFR SSGs have demonstrated exceptional performance. At AREVA Solar’s Kimberlina facility in Bakersfield, CA, its Solar Steam Generator 4 (SSG4) is ASME Section I boiler “S” Stamp Certified and the design includes a proprietary Model Predictive Control system capable of maintaining any two of three steam conditions (flow, pressure, temperature) under varying solar input. In a “lights‐out” test, simulating complete instantaneous cloud cover, which would normally knock a photovoltaic installation off the grid, SSG4 had sufficient thermal inertia to supply more than 18 minutes of superheated steam.

2. How economically effective is it? Has it been implemented effectively in commercial projects?:

DSG using CFLR is a dispatchable solution, which has numerous economic advantages, including: • Allowing for additional reduction in equipment cost and improvement in thermal efficiency compared to indirect steam generation using a thermal oil heat transfer fluid (HTF). • Eliminating equipment for managing the HTF fluid, the risk of environmental contamination, parasitic losses associated with pumping the HTF, and the need for a heat exchanger. • Permitting higher temperatures, resulting in improved cycle efficiency. • Eliminating the need for expensive heat transfer fluids and systems. • Allowing for easier permitting of new synthetic fuels or other flammable materials. • Providing the most land‐efficient solar power system, as measured by land area per peak megawatt, making it easy to co‐locate at an existing plant site for booster configurations, reducing costs and minimizing environmental impact. CLFR DSG has been successfully demonstrated at the Kimberlina Solar Thermal Plant in Bakersfield, CA where the power is sold to the California wholesale market. It is also being used for solar power augmentation to increase an existing power plant’s capacity without added emissions at two new projects: • Kogan Creek Solar Boost Project: A 44 MW solar augmentation project under construction at a coal station in South West Queensland, Australia. When it enters operation in early 2013, it will be the world’s largest solar/coal augmentation project – providing an additional 44,000 megawatt hours of electricity per year and emissions savings. • Sundt Solar Boost Project: A 5 MW solar augmentation project at Tucson Electric Power’s coal/natural gas H. Wilson Sundt Generating Station in Tucson,



Arizona. At costs lower than PV, it will help TEP meet or exceed Arizona’s Renewable Energy Standard, which requires electric utilities to increase their use of renewable energy each year until it accounts for 15 percent of their power in 2025.

3. What is the long term viability for this solution?:

As utilities look to meet renewable portfolio standards and sustainability goals, solar hybrid and booster plants are an attractive option to quickly meet and maintain those goals through the 30‐year life cycle of the solar field while also adding value to existing energy infrastructure. Likewise, AREVA’s SSGs are backed by strong performance guarantees. DSG through CLFR is also less susceptible to future environmental regulations than other CSP technologies because it does not use synthetic fuels, molten salt or toxic materials and is the most land‐efficient CSP technology. Judge Comments:

Abengoa


Abengoa Solar considers dispatchability, through storage and hybridization, as one of the key differentiator vs other renewables. The company is really commited to the developemnt of the hybrid technologies of the future. Thanks to its unparalled R&D efforts, the company currently offers two solutions to the market: CSP hybridization in steam cycle and hybridization in gas Brayton cycle. The first one has been commercially proven and implemented in the ISCC plants of Argelia and Morocco. The second one is currently being developed in a pilot plant located in Sanlucar la Mayor (Seville, Spain). This power tower technology, known as "Solugas", relies on an innovative pressurized air receiver capable to heat up air to high temperatures. Under its combined cycle configuration, this heated air is introduced in a gas turbine that generates electricity. The hot exhaust air from the gas turbine is introduced in a heat recovery steam generator, the one generates steam and electricity in a steam turbine. From a dispatchable perspective, this technology is capable to offer unique operational characteristics, which will be key for the electrical grids of the future where non dispatchable sources penetration will be high. Besides



being capable to generate electricity whenever the grid needs it and being a firm generator that will not impact grid stability, the technology can offer the unique characteristic within CSP of helping stabilize the grid under unfavorable conditions, thanks to its impressive dynamic performance.

2. How economically effective is it? Has it been implemented effectively in commercial projects?: Abengoa Solar´s pressurised air receiver technology, "Solugas", is best of breed within the hybrid alternatives and its really a step ahead in the area of hybridization. Solugas technology takes advantage of the thermodynamic benefits of operating in a combined cycle, improving its thermal to electric efficiency in around 30% in comparison to the CSP plants currently being installed in the market. The receiver technology is currently being demostrated in a pilot plant and the rest of the components (gas turbine, steam turbine...) are being developed by the manufacturing leaders in the fossil conventional market.


Solugas will be the definitive hybrid technology that will help transition from a fossil to a renewable world. Its characteristics make it very attactive for markets with high radiation and mid fossil fuel prices where stand‐alone CSP has not reached grid parity. Abengoa is currently developing the 2nd generation of pressurized air receiver, the one will be more cost competitive thanks to the use of innovative materials and its capability to operate at higher temperatures.

Abantia

1. Describe the nature of the technology/project and what increased dispatchability solution it provides: The project Borges Thermo solar corresponds to the construction of a CSP plant of 22,5 MW electrical output power, provided with parabolic trough collectors and hybridized with biomass. The project is under construcion in Les Borges Blanques, Lleida (North East of Spain) and will be finished by the end of the present year, with a total area of 70 hectares and estimating an annual net production of 98.000 MWeh/year, from:



(i) The received solar irradiation in the solar field based on 336 collectors with a total area of 181.000 sqm from the installed mirrors. (ii) the useful thermal energy transferred to the HTF and produced in 2 x 22 MWt biomass combustion units. (iii) with an approximate 37% electrical efficiency from the turbine.

2. How economically effective is it? Has it been implemented effectively in commercial projects?: Production: With a 22,5 MW hybridized plant, a production of 98.000 MWh/year is expected, very close to the production of a 50 MW plant in solar mode (around 110.000 MWh/year). ‐ Dispatchable Generation: Enables the production of energy with low or with absence solar irradiation, achieving an operation of 6.354 hours/year ‐ Continuous operation of the Turbine: With the incorporation of hybridization, a continuous operation is permitted, avoiding daily start‐up’s and shut‐downs, and therefore, a better efficient use of the power block as well as the electrical infrastructure of the plant. ‐ Less investment for similar electrical production: ‐ Hybridized trough investment (Borges‐EPC): 153 M€ 50 MW trough investment (EPC with no hybridization): 190‐210 M€ (Spanish data) (Please note that no costs for land have been considered) Chances for hybridization depending on the environment ‐ The plant is more independent from the DNI forecasts (as biomass supports solar energy) ‐ To avoid to oversize the solar field even though the plant runs 24 h/day The project Borges Thermo solar corresponds to the construction of a CSP plant of 22,5 MW electrical output power, provided with parabolic trough collectors and hybridized with biomass. The world’s first thermo solar plant on a commercial scale with this uniqueness.




Increase annual electrical production, in accordance with the Spanish regulations for CSP plants, based on a proportion of 40% solar, 10% Fossil fuel and 50% biomass. These last two values must not be exceeded. ‐ To allow a continuous operation condition of the plant (24h/day) for an appreciable period of time without interruption, avoiding daily powering‐up and shutting‐down of the steam turbine, which at the end reduces its life cycle. ‐ To Increase the Overall Efficiency by eliminating losses for daily powering‐up and shutting‐down of the steam turbine. ‐ Allow an incident solar energy utilization, including the one which is bellow the minimum technical turbine load operation. ‐ To increase the turbine efficiency when it operates at Loads Points lower than 100% ‐ To avoid the effect of clouds of fog, keeping the plant efficiency

Judge Comments:

Halotechnics


Halotechnics is the materials research company focused on heat transfer and heat storage materials for the CSP industry. Halotechnics leverages our high‐throughput chemistry lab and engineering team to discover and develop heat transfer fluids and thermal storage systems that are less expensive and more performant than legacy heat transfer. Halotechnics' 3 products, Saltstream 565, Saltstream 700, and Liquid Glass, are the result of over 20,000 experiments, many experiments involving 4, 5, and 6 mixtures to find the right combination of low melting point, high thermal stability, high heat capacity, and low corrosion. Halotechnics continues to innovate with our high throughput workflow, and engineering team developing the thermal systems around the fluids. Thanks to a $3.3M grant from ARPA E, Halotechnics is developing molten glass heat transfer fluids that operate at 1200 C, as well as the thermal storage system that houses the fluid. At this temperature the plant will drive a gas turbine, and the LCOE of the CSP plant will be cheaper than fossil fuels. Halotechnics has been fortunate to receive $6M in grants from the DOE, NSF, NREL, and ARPA E in our work, and we're we will continue to innovate and drive cost out of CSP, now and into the future.




Halotechnics is prelaunch, and has several salt mixtures in late stage testing. Saltstream 565 for current generation plants is going to pilot test this summer at Sandia National Labs. Halotechnics 565 is 20% lower cost than standard solar salt. Our next generation product, Saltstream 700, allows higher operation of super critical steam plants, making the plants more efficient and cost effective. Haltoechnics is able to develop our products utilizing federal grants, and look to drive cost out of the CSP prodcuction value chain wherever possible, while making the most performant heat transfer and heat storage fluids on the market.


Halotechnics Salt Stream and Molten Glass products are enabling the future of CSP. Our future high temperature research at 700 C and 1200 C, focused on tower applications, is the most advanced research on this application in the world. In support of these projects, Haltoechnics has received letters of support from every major CSP plant developer in the industry. Halotechnics is leading the charge to discover these materials and provide them to the market.

Judge Comments:

Terrafore, Inc.

1. Describe the nature of the technology/project and what increased dispatchability solution it provides: Terrafore is on the verge of breaking through the technology barrier for a low cost, high energy density phase change thermal energy. They have demonstrated that PCM can be successfully encapsulated to store thermal energy from CSP to temperatures up to 600 C or greater.



A major technology barrier for encapsulation is creating a void inside the shell during encapsulation of the PCM material. This void or empty space is required to accommodate for thermal expansion when the solid PCM melts and expands. Terrafore team has developed a recipe to make these capsules using a production method that is commonly used in the industry and can be produced through contract manufacturers. Thus this does not require any new capital to produce these capsules but will require engineering to scale the recipe to reliably produce these capsules.

2. How economically effective is it? Has it been implemented effectively in commercial projects?: This breakthrough now allows for cascading the PCM salts in one tank. We plan to use encapsulate different salts, melting at progressively higher temperatures and stack these in the tank to produce the cascade effect. This will increase the solidification of the PCM. The size of the capsules is of the order of 10mm and offers a high heat transfer area and hence can meet the high heat rate required for CSP power block. The heat transfer fluid from CSP system is used to charge and discharge the heat by direct contact with the capsules. The heat is stored as combination of latent heat and sensible heat in the PCM. Because of cascading a good thermal stratification is maintained. Since the capsules are lighter than the heat transfer fluid, thermal ratcheting is avoided. Thus this technology uses the latent heat and thermal stratification together to achieve the low cost per unit stored. We expect the cost will significantly reduce to below $15 per kWh achieving the SunShot goal.


In the late 70s and early 80s, significant research was conducted to solve the heat transfer issue A thermal storage panel in 1981 concluded that encapsulation is perhaps the best way to effectively use latent heat of fusion in salts, develop the technology to create a void in the capsule. The shell material used is readily available and can withstand very high temperatures (upto 1000C Hence this can be used with PCM materials melting at



greater than 650 C and hence be used with next generation CSPs or other high temperature waste heat sources or in nuclear and in fossil plants for storing thermal energy. In addition, the capsules can be used in particle receivers that are being considered for next generation CSP tower system.

Judge Comments:

US Solar Thermal Storage LLC

1. Describe the nature of the technology/project and what increased dispatchability solution it provides: US Solar Thermal Storage's SandShifter is a novel, new‐to‐the‐world Thermal Energy Storage (TES) technology which enables the use of sand as a TES media. Sand, as a media, has a 10X to 25X cost advantage over molten salt per‐unit of TES capacity. Sand is cheap, environmentally benign, and abundant in many CSP project areas. Most significantly, sand has no meaningful temperature limitations, neither in terms of a maximum nor a minimum nor allowable temperature ranges. The SandShifter design is adaptable for application with various Heat Transfer Fluids – including VP1, molten salt, and steam. The temperature flexibility thus enables its application with a full range of CSP plant configurations allowing the SandShifter to take full advantage of advantage of higher temperatures, higher cycle efficiencies, and TES volume minimization through increased delta‐T across the TES system to reduce CSP LCOE. Furthermore, the SandShifter’s unique non‐linear cost curve favors higher numbers of storage, as the marginal cost of additional sand is very low – giving the SandShifter unique and disruptive advantage in meeting key CSP industry goals: particularly low cost storage for large numbers of hours of storage. Design: The SandShifter system employs a two‐tank style TES configuration. The SandShifter device itself is a combined conveyor and counter/cross‐flow heat exchanger which shuttles sand between “hot” and “warm” storage vessels. A materials handling equipment (MHE) system delivers sand from the storage vessels into the SandShifter. The Rotating Drum SandShifter conveys the sand from end‐to‐end via means of an internal Archimedes Screw, which pushes the sand along as the drum rotates. A systems of longitudinal vanes (effectively, long scoops) lift the sand as the drum rotates, and rain the sand in



even flows over a tube bundle, through which HTF flows in closed conduits. As the sand cascades through the tube bundles, heat transfer occurs between sand‐and‐metal and metal‐and‐HTF. Design Advantages: The design successfully overcomes key challenges of using sand as a TES media, namely temperature degradation in static bed designs, low thermal conductivity of sand, and creating an efficient heat transfer mode. The counterflow arrangement provides for close approach temperature. This elegant system results in thin sand flows within the heat exchanger. The storage vessels are sub‐divided, in‐ground pits, for which a low‐cost construction methodology has been developed, reducing associated costs by roughly 75% relative to above‐ground tank options. Peak SandShifter system parasitic loads are estimated at 5.5%. A variety of patent claims in the U.S. and internationally cover key aspects of the design. Capacity: A SandShifter system would be comprised of as many SandShifter units as is required to achieve the peak MW capacity. For example, 3 nominally 17 MW units might add together for a peak storage capacity of 51 MW. Units could be dispatched or charged in such increments as desired operationally. The SandShifter is capable of providing any number of hours of storage. Indeed, the design favors (economically) greater numbers of hours of storage due to the combination of i) a low cost media (dirt cheap!), and ii) dominant fixed costs in the MHE and SandShifter. Thus, for an initial design using molten salt as HTF (not as TES media), one might expect costs of $66 and $36 per kWh‐th for 2 and 4 hours of storage – but only $18 and $16 per kWh‐th for 10 and 12 hours of storage respectively.

2. How economically effective is it? Has it been implemented effectively in commercial projects?: Current cost estimates show the SandShifter being capable of reaching costs in the $10‐20 per kWh‐th for 6‐10 hours of storage for designs using molten salt as HTF in a 290C/550C application. Steam‐as‐HTF applications are likely to have similarly disruptive cost outcomes.



Cost estimates for designs using VP1 in Trough application show cost potential in the $30‐$40/kWh‐th range for 6‐8 hours of storage. Due to interesting aspects of the SandShifter technology’s cost curve, component cost structure, and how these shift with design and plant configuration options, continuing analysis may point to further reductions and/or shifts in optimal system design. There is also a roadmap for further reductions in costs and parasitic loads. Essentially, as an early stage technology, the technology still has a very high degree of future innovation potential. Current cost estimates were supported directly by vendors which fabricated the prototype and which routinely construct analogous structures, both in terms of steelwork and civil construction projects. However, the estimates do not yet include cost reduction potential for more automated, high volume fabrication nor for overseas production of key cost components. The SandShifter technology recently demonstrated successful performance in a 50 kW‐th prototype, including achievement of the desired heat transfer rates and sand kinematics. This field prototype incorporated a number of results from a variety of lab tests and sub‐prototyping work during the course of the preceding 3 years. A 1 MW demonstration project is now under development.


The SandShifter is currently believed to the most disruptive TES technology in the world, with the potential to radically shift TES cost curves. The technical viability is extremely high, due to the simplicity of the design and required fabrication techniques. It is expected that current cost projections will be met and the further work will reveal new and quantify already‐identified cost reduction opportunities, resulting in further cost reductions. Under current development timelines, which may be further accelerated, the technology can reach commercial application in 2014.



Indeed, the SandShifter's ability to reduce TES costs so dramatically likely makes this technology the most important invention in CSP in many years ‐‐ in an area which is critical to the survival of CSP in an increasingly competitive renewable energy landscape. Judge Comments:

BrightSource Energy

1. Describe the nature of the technology/project and what increased dispatchability solution it provides: BrightSource’s SolarPLUS™ solution combines BrightSource’s high‐efficiency LPT power tower solar thermal technology with proven two‐tank molten salt storage. The “solar salts”‐ composed of 60% sodium nitrate (NaNO3) and 40% potassium nitrate (KNO3) ‐ are commonly available materials. A traditional BrightSource’s LPT power tower solar thermal system uses a field of software‐controlled mirrors called heliostats to reflect the sun’s energy to a boiler atop a tower to produce high‐temperature and high pressure steam. The steam is used to turn a conventional steam turbine to produce electricity. In a BrightSource SolarPLUS™ plant, the steam is directed to a heat exchanger, where molten salts are further heated to a higher temperature, thus efficiently storing the heat energy for future use. Later, when the energy in storage is needed, the heat stored in the molten salts is used to generate steam to run the steam turbine BrightSource’s SolarPLUS™ solar thermal power plants represent a critical resource in helping to meet the world’s growing demand for clean energy, while avoiding the intermittency challenges that other renewable resources like PV and wind create for utilities and grid operators. In addition to producing firm and dispatchable power, storage also provides operational flexibility, balancing and shaping capabilities, and ancillary benefits to help support a reliable grid, reducing the need for additional fossil fuel units necessitated by the intermittency of PV and wind. Specifically, BrightSource’s SolarPLUS™ solution: • Extends the production of electricity into later parts of the day and after the sun sets when it is most valued by utilities



• Reduces the cost of renewable power for utilities’ customers by increasing a plant’s capacity factor and offering higher efficiencies than competing solar thermal power plants • Provides utilities with greater operational flexibility to shape production to meet changing utility customer demand • Offers utilities and grid operators additional operational and market value, by providing balancing and shaping capabilities, as well as ancillary services to support a reliable grid.

2. How economically effective is it? Has it been implemented effectively in commercial projects?: BrightSource’s SolarPLUS™ thermal energy storage solution reduces the cost of energy produced at a plant by increasing its capacity factor by extending the production of electricity into later parts of the day when it is most needed by utilities. BrightSource’s SolarPLUS™ plants also have efficiency and cost advantages over competing parabolic trough solar thermal technologies because of the LPT solar thermal power generating technology’s ability to reach higher temperature and higher pressure operating levels. Today, BrightSource’s LPT solar thermal power generating technology is producing the world’s highest temperature (540 degrees Celcius) and pressure (140 Bar) steam from solar. In contrast, parabolic trough plants are limited to approximately 400 degrees Celcius and 100 bar pressure. The ability to reach higher temperature and pressure operating levels allows for more improved economics in pure solar generation and in storage mode relative to parabolic troughs due to higher operating efficiencies. In November 2011, BrightSource announced the addition of its SolarPLUS™ thermal energy storage capability to three of its power purchase agreements with Southern California Edison. BrightSource is scheduled to deliver three plants with energy storage to SCE in 2016 and 2017.


BrightSource’s SolarPLUS™ solution is based on proven two‐tank molten salt storage technology. There is long‐term opportunity for this solution as the combination of highly‐efficient power tower solar thermal technology with storage provides utility customers with cost‐competitive, reliable and dispatchable clean power to meet peak demand. Additionally, by adding storage to its solar thermal power plants, BrightSource is able to further reduce



the total cost of energy by increasing its capacity factor. Recent studies by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory point to the high value of concentrating solar thermal power technologies with storage. This added value is a result of the resource’s unique capabilities including: ‐ Shifting electricity production to periods of highest demand ‐ Providing firm capacity to the power system; replacing the need for conventional power plants as opposed to just supplementing their output ‐ Providing ancillary services such as spinning reserves to help support a reliable grid ‐ Avoiding the variability and integration costs that other renewable resources like photovoltaics (PV) and wind create for utilities and grid operators; reducing the need for additional fossil fuel units required to back up intermittent renewables that put a hidden financial burden on ratepayers

Judge Comments:

FRANCem

1. Describe the nature of the technology/project and what increased dispatchability solution it provides: Technical and economic modeling of CSP system for reconstruction&development of the thermal electric power plant Lugansk 1500MW, Ukraine for 50% saving of coal. Optimized high efficiency for manufacturing and fast installation trackers design includes unique metal screw basements and stabilization elements against wind. Patentable process&software architecture for increasing of CSP output and security, and for decreasing of power consumption by trackers. EPC readiness.




Back payment of investment depending from coal price per ton between USD 80 and 120 and 200 will be accordingly between 6 and 4.2 and 2.7 years. The back payment will be between 4.6 and 3.5 and 2.4 years if it calculation includes sub‐profit from share price increasing 4% under prolongation fact for period of use for limited local coal resources (at moment local coal resources owned by the DETEK are appreciated for 20 years only!) EPC&M readiness for quickly reconstruction&development of any existing/new thermal(with/without electric generators) power plant without stopping/decreasing of actual production.


Savings of nonrenewable energy sources and other resources and materials for construction of new generators, grids, pipelines and other infrastructures. The present trackers field architecture with CSP technology will be easy and non‐destroying for integration into acting energy systems and ready for simultaneously high efficiency agricultural business development and support on trackers field include low cost energy supply, irrigation, automation, security and other services proposals for better negotiation options with landowners or sub‐business partners.

Judge Comments:

Gemasolar/ Torresol Energy

1. Describe the nature of the technology/project and what increased dispatchability solution it provides: Gemasolar is the first plant in the world providing solar energy 24h a day, based on a 15h molten salt storage system. The plant is actually operating in that mode, providing reliable and stable electricity 24h, 7 days /week.




Gemasolar is a COMMERCIAL and IMPLEMENTED solution, providing electricity to the grid since May 2011. Our expected production this year will exceed 88 Million KWh.


Gemasolar is the first commercial experience of a Central Tower plant operated with high temperature molten salts. But it will not be the last. Bigger plants will be erected based on the suceess of Gemasolar.

Judge Comments:

SENER

1. Describe the nature of the technology/project and what increased dispatchability solution it provides: Gemasolar project. Dispatchability is optimized thanks to the thermal storage at high temperatures and for almost 24hour/day.

2. How economically effective is it? Has it been implemented effectively in commercial projects?: LCOE is greatly reduced even if initial investment obviously higher.


I would say this is the future in CSP technologies. The concept of being able to dispatch electricity to the grid as the grid needs it.

Judge Comments:



Award Nominations 4: "Responsible Business Award 2012"


Solar Reserve

1. Describe how the project has contributed to the local environment/economy this year and why you believe this company deserves the award – please state clear case studies that justify this award:

SolarReserve is a leading solar energy company developing utility‐scale solar projects in North America and abroad that feature SolarReserve’s market‐leading solar thermal power technology with integrated energy storage that produces emissions‐free, reliable energy available on‐demand, day or night, and even 24‐hours per day. SolarReserve’s solar power projects provide significant benefits to the environment and economy on a number of levels. With regard to the environment, SolarReserve plants operate solely on the power of the sun, without the need for natural gas back‐up to provide power during intermittent sun supply that most other solar facilities require. SolarReserve’s plants with energy storage make it possible to provide clean, firm power whenever the utility needs. Therefore, there are no harmful emissions from SolarReserve’s plants, such as those that would be created by burning natural gas when the sun’s resource is unavailable. SolarReserve plants utilize the most advanced, efficient technologies that require minimal water. A SolarReserve plant uses only one quarter the amount that a traditional coal plant uses. This is critical in many areas that are optimal for solar power development, such as the US Southwest, that are constrained on water resources. Furthermore, SolarReserve, as the developer of these projects, places the actual site selection for the plant at an utmost priority. SolarReserve looks to



locate plants on either previously disturbed land or land that is not recognized as “environmentally pristine” to ensure preservation of natural habitats and ecological systems. With regard to the economy, SolarReserve’s solar plants create new, lasting jobs, diversify the economy and provide substantial economic impacts to the local community and state. For example, at the Crescent Dunes Plant, construction is expected to peak at more than 600 jobs on site during the 30‐month construction period and is estimated to create more than 4,300 direct, indirect and induced jobs at companies that provide engineering, equipment supply and manufacturing, transportation and other value‐added services. To date, orders for the project have been placed for equipment and services in more than 20 states. Once operational, the project will expend more than $10 million per year in salaries and operating costs, and is forecasted to generate $47 million in tax revenues through the first 10 years of operation, contributing to workers’ paychecks, service businesses, local school systems and police and fire departments. With rising population and standards of living, demand for energy is expanding exponentially. This demand can only be met in the long‐term through a diversified energy generation portfolio from sources with clean energy demonstrating the most promise in terms of reliability, cost and impact on the environment. SolarReserve’s revolutionary technology rises to the challenge by generating on‐demand electricity from a renewable energy from an infinite source: the sun. With projects like Crescent Dunes, SolarReserve will help power entire cities with clean, emissions‐free, reliable energy whenever it is needed, and even 24 hours a day. Expanding our nation’s energy portfolio will help stimulate the economy, create jobs and increase energy security. Equally important is that we mitigate climate change and improve the health of our community and the environment.

2. Describe how sustainable development and/or contribution to the economy was achieved:



SolarReserve’s innovative technology, coupled with its responsible business practices, sets it apart as a company working to improve the health of our environment and the economy as a whole. The company was founded in 2007 with the objective to create solar energy facilities that were not only completely emissions‐free, but also provided firm, reliable energy when it is needed, to meet the growing energy demands and solve the problem that other renewable energy technologies face, which is intermittent generation supply. SolarReserve’s game‐changing molten salt storage technology, developed by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne and exclusively licensed to SolarReserve, was successfully proven at a US Department of Energy pilot project, Solar Two, in the 1990’s and is now the key feature of SolarReserve’s power projects that offer integrated storage and allow electricity to be generated around the clock. This integrated storage technology solves the problem of nearly all other renewable energy generation technologies such as wind and traditional solar power, which offer no or limited thermal storage, and therefore can only generate electricity when the wind blows or when the sun shines. Using molten salt to both collect and store energy enables SolarReserve plants to be powered solely by the sun, without the need of fossil fuel backup. The result is a renewable, reliable power generator that operates just like conventional plants but without the harmful emissions and price volatility associated with burning fossil fuels. Additionally, SolarReserve carefully negotiates each of its projects to ensure that jobs are created locally. For example, at SolarReserve’s Crescent Dunes Solar Plant, SolarReserve has an Agreement to fill 90 percent of the construction jobs with Nevada residents.

3. What makes this project different and relevant to receive this award? How has the company excelled in this task?:

SolarReserve’s Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project, located near Tonopah, Nevada, is leading the way in the renewable energy sector to provide reliable, firm power on‐demand from a renewable source. It is the nation’s first and world’s largest commercial scale solar thermal energy facility to demonstrate that a renewable energy plant can in fact provide power well after the sun goes down, and will revolutionize the industry going forward. In the current energy landscape, with low PV prices, the key differentiator for the CSP sector is storage, and SolarReserve has the market‐leading storage solution. The



Crescent Dunes Plant will be an icon in the solar energy sector, and set a new standard for renewable energy generators. Construction is already underway this flagship project in the U.S. – the Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project, located near Tonopah, Nevada. Once competed, the 110 megawatt (MW) facility will be capable of supplying 75,000 homes with power during peak demand periods. Utilizing the most advanced solar thermal technology worldwide, the Crescent Dunes Plant will be the nation’s first commercial‐scale solar power facility with fully integrated energy storage and the largest power plant of its kind in the world. Additionally, as previously mentioned, the project has created a substantial amount of US jobs and is diversifying the local economy, with over 600 direct jobs created during peak construction and around 4,300 direct, indirect and induced jobs across the supply chain.

Judge Comments:

BrightSource Energy


BrightSource’s Ivanpah solar power facility is located on approximately 3,500 acres of federal land in California’s Mojave desert, managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior‘s Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The 377 megawatt (net output) facility consists of three separate solar thermal power plant that, when constructed, will produce enough clean energy to power 140,000 homes. The power generated from these solar plants will be sold under separate contracts with Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) and Southern California Edison (SCE). PG&E will purchase approximately two‐thirds of the power generated at Ivanpah and SCE will purchase approximately one‐third. In all, BrightSource has contracted with PG&E and SCE to deliver approximately 2,400 megawatts of electric power.



Creating Jobs: BrightSource and Bechtel, the engineering and construction contractor for the Ivanpah project, estimate that construction of the Ivanpah project will require approximately over 1,500 union jobs at the peak of construction. The project will also provide $400 million in local and state tax revenues, and produce $650 million in wages, over its first 30‐year life. For a first‐hand perspective on how the jobs created by the Ivanpah project are impacting the local economy, watch this portrait of Ross & Kenneth, two former members of the armed forces who came to be Teamster apprentices at Ivanpah through the “Helmets to Hardhats” program, which connects veterans with careers in the construction industry. Environmentally Responsible: The Ivanpah project will reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by more than 400,000 tons annually, which is the equivalent of taking more than 70,000 cars off the road. BrightSource’s system is also designed to minimize impacts on the natural environment. In addition to being one of the most land‐efficient renewable energy technologies, BrightSource’s low impact heliostat layout is flexible, allowing the solar field to be built around the natural contours of the land and avoid areas of sensitive vegetation. And in order to conserve scarce water resources, the technology employs an air‐cooling system to convert the steam back into water in a closed‐loop cycle. By using air‐cooling, BrightSource’s technology uses more than 90 percent less water than older technology parabolic trough plants with wet cooling. The project has also created a new Head Start desert tortoise protection programHead start programs are a critical avenue for enhancing repopulation of the desert tortoise – a federally listed “threatened” species. In their natural environment, less than ten percent of juvenile desert tortoises survive beyond five years of age due to predation from ravens, kit foxes, and coyotes and other factors such as drought and disease. In addition to moving the desert tortoise out of harm’s way, the head‐start program is enabling tortoises to be hatched within a protected area, watched over to ensure they are more likely to survive, and ultimately released into its natural environment to further repopulate. The Ivanpah program will provide



desert tortoise biologists with important information about head‐starting and its effectiveness in repopulating the desert tortoises. There are currently a small number of head start programs for tortoise, including programs at Ft. Irwin National Training Center, Edwards Air Force Base, Twenty‐nine Palms Marine Corps Base, Mojave National Preserve and others. Biologists are hopeful that future and ongoing desert tortoise head start programs can share information and findings to maximize the success of each facility and aid in the recovery of this important species.

2. Describe how sustainable development and/or contribution to the economy was achieved: BrightSource partnered with Bechtel, the engineer and construction contract for the Ivanpah project to hire a local workforce. In December 2009, Bechtel signed a project labor agreement with the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California (SBCTC) and the Building & Construction Trades Council of San Bernardino and Riverside counties to ensure that California‘s local workforce benefits from the project. The Ivanpah project was designed with the environment in mind: ‐ Efficient Land Use: With its taller towers and optimized solar field design, BrightSource’s solar tower technology uses 25% less land than competing solar technologies, including photovoltaic and trough solar. ‐ Improves Air Quality: BrightSource’s solar plants avoid millions of metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions over the plant’s life. It will also have 85% less air pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides (NOX) and sulfur oxides (SOX), than a natural gas‐fired power plant. ‐ Low Water Use: BrightSource’s solar tower technology uses up to 95% less water than competing wet cooled solar thermal plants by employing a dry‐cooling process, which uses air instead of water to condense steam. The steam production cycle is a closed‐loop system, with all water recycled back into the system, while general conservation measures help to further reduce water usage. The water consumed on the project is for cleaning the mirrors, much like a PV plant of similar size. ‐ Limited Impact on the Land: Unlike competing technologies, which require the majority of a project site be fully graded, BrightSource solar tower plants retain the majority of the project site’s natural landscape. Instead of extensive grading and concrete foundations, BrightSource’s heliostat pylons are



inserted directly in the ground allowing vegetation to co‐exist within the solar field below the mirrors. The limited grading and concrete foundations allow the land to retain its natural land contours and features.


The Ivanpah project is one of the largest solar thermal projects under construction in the world, and the first solar thermal project to break ground in California in more than 20 years. The Ivanpah solar thermal power system will use BrightSource’s proven solar tower technology to produce clean, reliable solar electricity to more than 140,000 homes. Located in Ivanpah Dry Lake, California, the three‐unit power system will be built on approximately 3,500 acres and will create construction jobs for 1,500 workers. In addition to supplying power to California’s two largest utilities—PG&E and Southern California Edison—the Ivanpah project brings together some of the world’s most respected names in energy and engineering. Leading power generation company NRG Energy has joined BrightSource in the construction, ownership, and operation of Ivanpah, investing up to $300 million over the next three years. Google has also joined as an equity partner with an investment of $168 million. BrightSource has partnered with Bechtel as the engineering procurement and construction (EPC) contractor at Ivanpah. The Ivanpah project has received a $1.6 billion loan guarantee by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to serve as the debt for this project. We are also procuring equipment for the Ivanpah complex from some of the world’s leading manufacturers. We’ve signed agreements with Siemens for the largest ever solar‐powered steam turbine generator, and with Riley Power Inc., a subsidiary of Babcock Power Inc., for three solar boilers. BrightSource’s respect for the environment informs everything the company does. To minimize the environmental impact to the greatest extent possible, BrightSource has developed a portfolio of best practices that encompass site selection, low‐impact design, air quality, water usage and species protection. In site design, BrightSource’s proprietary technology minimizes grading and leveling while maximizing retention of existing vegetation and natural features. Additionally, BrightSource’s closed‐loop dry‐=cooling method uses 90% less water compared to wet cooling and 25 times less water than competing technologies. The company is also sensitive to issues of public health: best practices extend to minimizing and whenever possible avoiding CO2 and criteria pollutants.



Judge Comments:

Synergy international Int.


Synergy International Incorporated (www.synergyii.com) has been a 30+ year pioneer in the design and construction of what we call Solartecture refering to building‐integrated energy systems. We believe Solartecture can results in beautiful and highly functional buildings that are powered by renewable energy systems such as solar PV, wind turbines and concentrated solar systems. This means that they can achieve self‐reliance. We are also highly productive in the development and construction of commercial‐scale solar and wind farms. Synergy International is a socially responsible company also supporting many educational activities. Synergy International case studies include; the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission building (LEED Gold); the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation building (LEED Gold); the Ohana Eco‐Village and the Ohana Aeroponic Solar/Wind greenhouse in Hawaii; the San Francisco Bay Hornblower wind and solar‐powered ferry and the Holcim Apasco cement plant in Hermosillo Mexico.

2. Describe how sustainable development and/or contribution to the economy was achieved: Synergy International is a long time proponent of regenerative and appropriate technologies for self and community reliance. We have designed and structured the development of wind, solar and bio‐intensive greenhouses. We are harvesting and harnessing natural energy and developing income streams that are localized and not dependent on foreign energy imports. We have demonstrated that this natural capital, derived freely from the biosphere, supports local communities and economies from the bottom up. We consider ourselves farmers of the ecosystem whether in the production of food or electrons.




We are submitting a recent concentrated solar powered (CSP) project for Holcim Apasco as an example of our work. We are completing the final commissioning of the administration building now which will represent a model for a sustainable and green cement plant building. The building is a net‐zero energy building. The sun that shines on the building provides electricity from solar PV and the air‐conditioning load is covered by the solar concentrator and absorption chiller system. This is the first such structure and energy system in Latin America. An online booklet is available for this project. For the project booklet please visit: http://www.holcimfoundation.org/Portals/1/docs/Hermsosillo.pdf This project is succeeding through sheer will‐power and by overcoming many difficulties, including financial, technical, NAFTA export logistics and language barriers, all reinforcing the idea that the first project of it's kind is often the hardest.

NextEra


NextEra Energy Resources has extensive experience managing a variety of power plants. One priority is to deliver certainty – ensuring that electricity is available to our customers when needed. We are also focused on operating our plants safely and reliably, using quality tools that facilitate continuous improvement.

2. Describe how sustainable development and/or contribution to the economy was achieved: NextEra Energy Resources reflects the solid business practices of our parent company, NextEra Energy, Inc., a Fortune 200 company and one of the nation's largest providers of clean energy services. We are well positioned for industry trends and future success. Our financial strength and discipline set us apart from other companies, including:



A track record of strong performance with steady earnings growth. A strong balance sheet that supports a broad range of investment opportunities and future growth. A disciplined approach to capital investments. Outstanding credit ratings. Careful management of all forms of risk.


Not only do we manage a financially sound company, but we do so in a way that preserves the environment now and for future generations. Our parent company, NextEra Energy, Inc., continues its active involvement in the planet’s critical environmental issue ‐ climate change ‐ and supports a comprehensive plan to effect real change. At NextEra Energy Resources, we incorporate environmental stewardship into the design, construction, operation and maintenance of our facilities. We are committed to meeting the growing demand for power in an environmentally responsible manner.

Judge Comments:

Abengoa


Abengoa Solar develops and applies solar energy technologies, both concentrating solar power and photovoltaic, to combat climate change and to ensure sustainable development, helping to develop the communities where it is present. In addition to the values that define Abengoa’s mission (integrity, legality, professional diligence, confidentiality and quality) that Abengoa Solar takes as its own, the company carries out its activities based on:



Maximizing human value. Abengoa Solar is made up of people and these people provide value to the company. Being global. Abengoa Solar considers itself to be a global, multicultural and open company. Technological innovation. Abengoa Solar is convinced that technology can add value to the sustainable development of society and it manages its activities based on this objective. Achieving the highest levels of integrity and ethics. With the first commercial plants in the US, CSP technology has been in use for over 30 years. Plants have improved over time and significant technological developments have led to cost reduction and higher efficiency. CSP is neither an experimental technology nor one undergoing testing, but rather a commercial solution that can be adapted to a variety of geographic locations. Abengoa Solar has 543 MW in operation, of which 531 MW are CSP, making it a world leader in installed capacity of this technology. During the construction and subsequent operation and maintenance over the course of the useful life of solar power plants, between 4 and 5 temporary jobs will be created for each MW during project execution and between 1 and 2 permanent positions per MW during the operating period. Depending on the number of projects, manufacturing supply chains may develop, in addition to the creation of R&D facilities in the surrounding area. Solana is a good example of this. Located 70 km southwest of Phoenix, Arizona, Solana is one of the world’s largest thermal solar plants under construction, and will boast 280 MW of gross installed capacity (250 MW net) through cutting‐edge parabolic‐trough technology. Solana will generate enough energy to supply 70,000 US households, while cutting yearly CO2 emissions by 475,000 tons. Solana will include six hours of storage using molten salt technology, enabling it to store energy during cloudy spells and after sunset. This storage capacity will allow Solana to generate enough electricity to meet peak evening demand during the Arizona summer. The construction and operation of Solana will bring with it huge economic and environmental benefits for the State of Arizona, and will help to accomplish the national energy independency objectives established by the “green economy”. Abengoa is confident that the project will generate between 1,600 and 1,700 new temporary jobs during the construction phase, and more than 65 permanent positions once completed. Numerous indirect jobs are also being created in the supply chain associated with manufacturing the components and providing the necessary services for a project of this size. As of April 2012, the supply chain covers 26 states and some 70 companies had been contracted.



Solana is one of two projects of this magnitude currently being constructed in the US, the other being the Mojave Solar Project in California.

2. Describe how sustainable development and/or contribution to the economy was achieved:

Taking Solana as an example of what is achieved, we see: Making over $2 billion of direct and indirect investment in 2011‐2013 throughout the United States. Creating a national supply chain that already spans 26 states, with approximately $640 million in components and services ordered in the first 14 months of construction. Job creation peaking at 1,600 to 1,700 construction jobs during a 3‐year period. Creating over 65 full‐time, high‐paying jobs for plant operation. Generating about $420 million in tax revenues over 30 years. Providing clean, sustainable power . Developing CSP will reduce our dependence on foreign imports, spur innovation, and strengthen U.S. economic competitiveness in the global clean energy race. Building multiple CSP plants in the Southwest will help to establish a component manufacturing and supply chain here in the U.S., creating economies of scale that will reduce the cost of solar electricity from CSP over time.


This project is the first of its kind in size and technology, developed by a company that takes sustainability seriously through its commitment to its people, the environment and the communities where it operates.

Judge Comments:

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