Wheeler deal

Foster Wheeler has been awarded a contract by SENER-AMSA to design and supply the steam-generating equipment for the new Gemasolar concentrated solar power (CSP) plant in Seville, Spain.

SENER-AMSA also awarded Foster Wheeler the feedwater heater equipment contract for the facility.

The CSP plant, designed by SENER-AMSA, utilises the SENER Central Receiver System (CRS) design with molten-salt heat storage, which is said to provide higher efficiency and utilisation factors than units without storage.

The salt is heated by concentrated solar light reflected by heliostat mirrors towards a tower-mounted receiver.

Once heated, the salt is then circulated through the Foster Wheeler equipment to produce steam for electricity generation.

‘Foster Wheeler was instrumental in the design development of solar thermal power technology in the 1970s and early 1980s,' said Eric Svendsen, chief executive officer of Foster Wheeler Energia, the Foster Wheeler subsidiary that will execute the contract.

‘The renewed global interest in solar power gives us the opportunity to apply this expertise to the advanced solar thermal power plants being developed today.’

Foster Wheeler has received a full notice to proceed on these contracts.

Initial operation of the solar plant is expected in 2010.