Solar Energy: World Premiere at the LLO Central

On the heights of LLO, the thermodynamic solar power plant dominates Cerdagne.As an extension of its 153.000m² of mirrors, we can see the Odeillo solar oven and the solar power plant Thémisne in Targasonne, pioneering equipment from solar concentration.This new establishment, the site of which started in September 2016 is an ambitious project which took place on 36 hectares.Rémy Icard, project director at Ello whose SUNCNIM company is in the majority (see on a frame), guides us through this power station made of steel, glass and water.

Positive energy and production optimization

23,800 boxes made in Palau de Cerdagne and Saillagouse support 95,200 mirrors.In all, 4,000 tonnes of equipment are located at the port of LLO.The power station is divided into two parts, the western field making twice the area of the field is.The process seems could not be simpler."The mirrors refer and concentrate the rays of the sun to a tube containing pure water which, heated, is transformed into steam.This, thanks to a traffic system, is sent to a turbine causing an alternator producing electricity, connected to the network, "explains Rémy Icard.

The power plant uses the SUNCNIM technology of "fresnel mirrors", which in itself, is not a first."Indeed, there are not far from here in Spain," said the project director."On the other hand, the great novelty is that it is the first solar thermodynamic solar power plant in the world to store energy.And to show 9 tanks of 120,000 m3 each totaling more than 120 m3 each totaling more than 1,000 m3 where part of the vapor produced by the Champ west is stored."They can store up to 80 pressure bars, corresponding to 4 hours of operation of the installation.The field steam is goes directly to the turbine ».

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The power of 9,000 kW electric which will be injected on the network will confirm the cerdagne in its positive energy region position."Indeed, with the LLO power station, a few solar farms and the hydroelectric dams, we produce more electrical energy than we consume" adds Rémy Icard while heading towards the PowerBlock, the intelligent part of the system wherefind administrative buildings, control room and electricity production equipment.Everything is managed from there."The site is divided into 170 modules comprising 10 rows of 14 mirrors each.Each module is managed by a system of coder cylinders, trackers, which position the mirrors compared to the sun ”.

Delivery of the power plant: April 30

The power station is dimensioned to operate 100% in winter, including with storage.By cons in summer, too much steam is produced."So we cannot store all this vapor.The fields are partially defocal and stop producing them.We are able to manage our steam production only by moving the mirrors ”.In the evening, when there is no more sun, the tanks destock the stored steam and the power plant can continue to work.

The LLO power station aims to seduce foreign markets."This technology is intended for desert areas, such as the Middle East, North Africa or South America.The LLO power station will be an international showcase of French know-how, in this case the CNIM ".Electricity production has gone through different stages "the connection of the power plant on the 20000V network, the security tests between the Enedis post of the Col de la Perche and the Centrale.We are allowed to produce on the network ”.Just before, the power plant will be put under pressure to clean the tubes, hunts, generating in the coming days, short periods of noise supported on the side of the port of LLO!

This means that starting operations are underway.These sound periods will not exist during the normal march of the installation in the next 20 years.The power station will be able to produce electricity at the end of 2018 and will be delivered in April 2019.Finally, note that the Suncnim is committed to providing CNRS Odeillo-Via with operating data to supply research work on energy storage.

Quelques chiffres. Coût : 60 M€.153 000 m2 de miroirs implantés.12 km de tubes renfermant l’eau (chauffée à 286°) et transformée en vapeur (70 bars). 23 800 caissons supportant 95 200 miroirs.9 cuves de 120 m3 (soit près de 1 000 m3) assurent le stockage de vapeur saturée à 80 bars. Puissance centrale : 9 MW électriques.Production électrique de la centrale : 20200 MWh/an.Capacité de stockage : 4 heures. 100 % recyclables.36 hectares dont 33 utilisés.8 personnes embauchées originaires du plateau cerdan à l’année.Bail amphytéotique avec la mairie de Llo.