Solutia Inc. says it has been awarded contracts to supply its Therminol VP-1 synthetic heat transfer fluid for two new solar power plants in Spain. The projects are each 50 MW solar power plants with thermal storage located in Extremadura, Spain.
Therminol heat transfer fluid is used in the trough-shaped mirror assemblies to absorb concentrated sunlight, heating up to about 400 degrees C. This stored heat can be used to produce energy during periods of little to no sunlight, including the evening hours, the company says. The heated Therminol is used to generate steam, which drives the power-generating turbines.
