Large-scale parabolic trough technology will be employed in both projects, located in Arizona and New York employ. The Arizona and New York projects will prevent the emission of 75 and 130 tons of CO₂ into the atmosphere each year

Madrid, February 9, 2009

Denver, February 9, 2009. Abengoa Solar is building industrial installations in Arizona, at a facility operated by the US Department of Energy, and New York, for legendary piano maker Steinway & Sons. The installations will avert the emission of 75 and 130 tons of CO ₂ respectively. The two projects will utilize large-scale parabolic trough solar technology. The hot water produced at the Arizona plant will be used in the treatment of contaminated water; at the New York plant, solar energy will deliver heating, cooling and humidity control of manufacturing facilities at a piano factory.

These two projects complement Abengoa Solar’s industrial installation completed last year in California. That plant, which is the largest solar process heat system in the world, generates steam used by a major food processor to cook potato and corn-based snack foods.

The new Arizona industrial installation is located in Tuba City on the Navajo Indian reservation, at a facility operated by the DOE. This installation, which started operations in January 2009, provides supplemental heat to displace coal-based electricity at a plant that treats ground-water contaminated by a former uranium-processing mill. It will also provide valuable lessons regarding the operation of industrial solar systems and the delivery of renewable energy in a remote area. The successful operation of the solar plant will provide the opportunity for duplication on a larger scale at similar sites throughout the US.

The second industrial system is being built for Steinway & Sons, in Long Island City, NY. This will be the first project in the US to integrate a parabolic trough collector system with a two-stage absorption chiller. This 90-ton machine will provide cooling and humidity control to a manufacturing area within the factory. The control of humidity will reduce waste produced in the manufacture of the precise wooden components used in pianos. Heat not required for cooling will be used to generate 15 pounds per square inch of steam for process or space heating. Installation of the collectors was completed in January 2009. The system will start up later in 2009 with the integration of the chiller and steam generator. The project received funding from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and will serve to test the efficiency of Abengoa Solar-developed technology in regions of higher latitude and lower levels of solar radiation.

Parabolic trough technology for industrial solar installations

The Tuba City and Long Island industrial solar installations, with power output capacities of 95 and 250 kilowatts thermal, respectively, use parabolic trough technology, which, besides producing electricity, is also ideal for the production of thermal energy to power industrial processes.

The widespread application of this technology would have significant positive impacts on the environment, as industry is a major emitter of greenhouse gases.

Abengoa Solar’s parabolic trough technology for industrial installations uses a silver polymeric reflector. The troughs track the sun’s movement continually during the day to concentrate solar radiation onto a heat-absorbing pipe at the focal point of the parabola. A heat transfer fluid circulating inside the pipe reaches high temperatures and by means of a heat exchanger delivers heat that can be used to generate steam, to heat hot water or air, or to drive an absorption chiller for air-conditioning

About Abengoa Solar

Abengoa Solar IST, a division of Abengoa Solar Inc., designs, builds, installs and operates industrial solar systems for the production of hot water and air, building heating and air-conditioning, and steam generation for applications in the public and private sectors. The company goal is to deliver, to our customers, industrial solar systems that reduce costs, provide long-term energy price stability and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In 2008, Abengoa Solar IST increased its manufacturing capabilities and expanded its manufacturing space to 40,000 square feet. It will obtain ISO 9001 Certification in early 2009.