Solutia Inc., a provider of performance materials and specialty chemicals, has been awarded a contract to supply its Therminol VP-1 synthetic heat-transfer fluid for the Solana solar power plant project.
The $2 billion plant, which is under construction in Gila Bend, Ariz., will utilize parabolic-trough concentrating solar technology and is expected to have a capacity of 250 MW.
The plant will also be capable of storing energy for continued power generation during periods of low sunlight, Solutia notes. Therminol heat transfer fluid absorbs concentrated sunlight, generating heat and steam that drive power-generating turbines.
Full production at the solar power plant is scheduled for 2013.
SOURCE: Solutia Inc.