US firm to bring new technology to Maan plant in Jordan

(MENAFN - Jordan Times) A US firm has joined the consortium tasked with constructing the Kingdom's first solar power plant, and is expected to incorporate a new type of solar technology. Local and international firms have selected Ausra Inc. as the solar steam boiler supplier for the proposed 100 megawatt (MW) Concentrated Solar Thermal Power (CSP) plant currently under development in Maan, according to the company. CSP entails the use of lenses or mirrors as well as tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam to produce up to 14,000oC of heat, creating steam to power a turbine for generating electricity. The technology is considered most suitable for countries with abundant direct radiation, such as the Kingdom, which is estimated at 5.5 kilowatt hours per square metre per day. Although current existing CSP plants rely on large amounts of water for cooling, some CSP technology can use dry cooling methods in water-conscious countries like Jordan. With its selection, the California-based firm will incorporate its compact linear Fresnel reflector technology to power the plant's solar steam cycle, according to the firm, with plans in place to establish a steam boiler manufacturing facility in the Kingdom. Ausra will also look into providing a back-up fossil-fuel boiler to guarantee 24-hour electric power distribution at the Maan Shams Project - expected to be one of the largest CSP projects in the world using direct solar steam generation.Ausra's selection as the solar boiler provider was announced in Berlin during the SolarPACES conference last month. Under the country's national energy strategy, the Kingdom is looking to produce 600MW of wind and 300-600MW of solar energy by 2020.Jordan imports around 96 per cent of its energy, costing the country some 20 per cent of its gross domestic product. However, some $1.4- 2.1 billion (2007 prices) in investments is required to meet the energy strategy's goals, according to the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources.By Taylor Luck