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The solar-thermal power station Andasol 1, located in the Spanish province of Granada in Andalusia, was officially inaugurated at the beginning of July 2009. Andasol 1 is presently the world's largest solar power station. Researchers at the German Aerospace Centre (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) were heavily involved in the development of key technologies and identified the most suitable location with the help of various tools, including satellite data. They did this on behalf of Solar Millennium AG, a project development company. In addition, their measuring methods contributed to the precision design of the parabolic trough collectors.

Andasol 1 delivers climate-compatible power for 200,000 people. This makes it possible to cut annual CO2 emissions by 150,000 tonnes. More than 600 parabolic trough collectors are distributed over a total surface area of about two square kilometres, each of which measuring 150 metres in length and 5.7 metres in width. These mirrors have a total surface area in excess of 500,000 square metres.

A heat accumulator is also located in the centre of this gigantic solar field. Here, two giant tanks, measuring 14 metres in height and 36 metres in diameter, are used to store surplus energy during the midday period with liquid salt. This salt is heated by solar power to temperatures of up to 390 degrees Celsius and this stored heat enables the power station to operate at full power (50 megawatts) for up to 7.5 hours after the Sun has set – a key requirement for the future use of solar power stations. More solar power stations are already in the planning stage.

Further information: www.dlr.de