Solutia has received a contract from Abengoa, an energy company, to deliver Therminol heat transfer fluid for the renewable energy project, Solana, in Arizona. The Therminol synthetic fluid plays a significant role in the Solana’s concentrating solar power capabilities.
The $2 billion worth solar power plant is currently being constructed and once completed will be the first major solar plant in the U.S. and the largest concentrating solar power project in the world. Full-scale production at the plant is planned to start in 2013 and it is expected to produce 250 MW of energy, which is sufficient to power over 70,000 homes.
Abengoa Solar has received more than a billion dollar loan from the U.S. Department of Energy to support the operation of the Solana project. Solutia is happy to be a part of the Solana power plant project and its Therminol product has been chosen for similar kinds of projects.
Heat transfer fluid generates steam and heat by absorbing concentrated sunlight. Both steam and heat drive energy-generating turbines. When there is little or lack of sunlight, the collected heat can be utilized to generate energy. The Solana plant will generate power to fulfil the demand in summer period. The project is expected to reduce 475,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year.
Source: http://www.Solutia.com/