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Amongst CSP technologies, tower systems are considered to have "medium" maturity. The first commercial tower system was installed by Abengoa Solar and is now celebrating its 4th month of successful operation. Abengoa Solar is currently constructing its second commercial tower system. A third commercial system is in the works that will utilize the high temperature technology developed at a demonstration plant.
Abengoa Solar is involved with every stage of CSP technology.
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Abengoa Solar is considered a pioneer in the field of solar tower technology. Their current installations demonstrate the enormous potential the technology has in the coming years. Much of Abengoa Solar designs much of its own proprietary technology. The structure used for CSP troughs, Solucar TR, was designed by Abengoa Solar NT, and the mirrors are manufactured at Abengoa Solar's Rioglass Solar factory.
Tower systems use a field of heliostats that track the sun in 2 axes and reflect solar radiation toward a central receiver. In order to be highly reflective, mirrors commonly used in heliostat fields. At the central receiver, which is housed in a tower, the solar radiation is concentrated up to 600 times normal solar radiation. The radiation is transferred to a working fluid within the receiver as heat. This heat is used to generate steam and operate an electricity generating turbine.

The third tower generation, the high temperature tower is being constructed in our demonstration plant.