History of Concentrated Solar Power Plants in

Spain

July 12, 2023

1 Introduction
Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) is a technology that utilizes mirrors or lenses
to concentrate a large amount of sunlight onto a small area, generating heat
that can be used to produce electricity. Spain has been at the forefront of CSP
development and has played a significant role in its advancement over the years.
This document provides an overview of the history of concentrated solar power
plants in Spain.

2 Early Developments
The development of CSP in Spain can be traced back to the early 1980s when
the Plataforma Solar de Almerı́a (PSA) was established in southern Spain. PSA
served as a research facility for various solar technologies, including CSP. In
1984, Spain’s first commercial CSP plant, the Solar Electric Generating Station
I (SEGS-I), was inaugurated in the region of Almerı́a. SEGS-I utilized parabolic
trough technology and had a capacity of 50 megawatts (MW).

3 Boom in CSP Development

The late 2000s witnessed a boom in CSP development in Spain. The Span-
ish government implemented a feed-in tariff system that provided favorable in-
centives for renewable energy, including CSP. This policy framework led to a
significant increase in CSP project installations throughout the country.
One of the most prominent CSP projects during this period was the PS10
solar power tower, commissioned in 2007 in Seville. PS10 was the world’s first
commercial solar power tower and had a capacity of 11 MW. It utilized a field
of heliostat mirrors to focus sunlight on a central receiver, generating steam to
drive a turbine and produce electricity.
Following the success of PS10, Spain continued to witness the construc-
tion of numerous CSP plants, particularly in the regions of Andalusia and Ex-
tremadura. Notable projects included PS20, a larger solar power tower with a

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capacity of 20 MW, and the Andasol 1, 2, and 3 parabolic trough plants, each
with a capacity of 50 MW.

4 Challenges and Transition

Despite the initial success and growth of CSP in Spain, the sector faced chal-
lenges in the subsequent years. The global financial crisis in 2008 and the eco-
nomic recession in Spain led to a reduction in government subsidies for renew-
able energy projects, including CSP. As a result, the CSP industry experienced
a decline, and several planned projects were either postponed or canceled.
However, in recent years, there has been a renewed interest in CSP in Spain,
driven by technological advancements and the need to transition to clean energy
sources. Newer CSP plants, such as the Cerro Dominador Solar Power Plant
in Chile, which is partially owned by a Spanish company, have showcased the
potential of CSP technology.

5 Conclusion
Spain has played a crucial role in the development of concentrated solar power
plants. The early establishment of research facilities and the implementation of
supportive policies led to significant advancements in CSP technology. Although
the sector faced challenges in the past, there is now a renewed interest in CSP as
a clean and sustainable energy source. As Spain continues to embrace renewable
energy, the future of concentrated solar power looks promising.