Solutia Inc. is to supply Therminol synthetic heat transfer fluid to a new 50 MW solar thermal power plant in Lebrija, Spain.

Iberese, a Spanish company which focuses on engineering and erection of power plants, has finalised the deal. The plant is part of a plan backed by Spain’s government to have 10 solar plants of 50 MW each operating by 2010.

Therminol heat transfer fluid is used in the trough-shaped mirror assemblies to absorb concentrated sunlight and heat up to about 400 degrees C. The heated Therminol is used to generate steam which drives the power generating turbines. Developers usually are on look-out for heat transfer fluid that can maintain its performance characteristics over years of continuous operation.

Last year, Therminol VP-1 was purchased by Flagsol GmbH for a 150 MW hybrid power plant using both natural gas and solar power in Kuraymat, Egypt.