Hydro Aluminum Supplies Extruded Aluminum Solar Arrays for Two New Thermal Solar Power Plants

Hydro Aluminum?s Extrusion Americas unit has expanded its commercial solar experience, supplying custom extruded aluminum to two new thermal solar facilities currently under construction in Spain.

Hydro Aluminum is supplying the extruded materials for use in the trough frames to the Palma del Rio II solar power plant, located in southern Spain, and the Majadas plant in Extremadura, east of Madrid. Palma del Rio II will utilize 9,153 frames, while the Majadas construction will use 8,700. Hydro will ship nearly 15 million pounds of aluminum for the two projects during a 10-month window. Both facilities are being built by Acciona, a Spanish energy company.

Desired for their rigidity, light weight, durability and tight tolerance to spec, Hydro?s extruded aluminum frames will be produced in the company?s Phoenix plant and fabricated at its Guaymas, Mexico, facility. The frames will be assembled on site in Spain.

"Our experiences at Nevada Solar One and, more recently, in Badajoz, Spain, help us to continuously improve our service to solar providers,? said Allan Bennett, Hydro Aluminum?s vice president of sales and marketing for the company?s Extrusion Americas solar energy group. ?Hydro enters into these types of projects well ahead of other providers.?

Hydro is manufacturing the frame components, support beams, clips and connectors for the arrays. Each frame is about 26 feet long and 12 feet high, holding parabolic mirrors that work with a computer-controlled system to track the sun. The mirrors focus the sun?s rays on a tube filled with heat-transfer fluid. The heated liquid generates steam, driving a turbine that creates electricity.

www.hydro.com/northamerica/