Image credit: Paul Rommer

SCHOTT has closed the sale of its CSP business to Rioglass Solar, the company announced in a statement April 14.

The buyer, Spanish Rioglass Solar, has acquired the production facility in Aznalcollar near Seville and also a large part of SCHOTT’s CSP assets located in Mitterteich, Germany.

SCHOTT will continue to offer after sales support and services for CSP receivers sold before the deal.

SCHOTT is a leading international technology group in the areas of specialty glass and glass-ceramics. The company has more than 130 years of development, materials and technology expertise.

Abengoa sells more solar assets

Abengoa has sold four PV plants located in the provinces of Seville and Jaen to Vela Energy, the company said April 7. The agreement, included in the divestment plan recently announced by Abengoa, implies a debt reduction of 50.3 million euros ($57.0 million) and a net cash inflow of 12.2 million euros and will contribute to achieving the targets set in the viability plan of New Abengoa.

Abengoa has sold four solar photovoltaic plants located in the provinces of Seville: Casaquemada of capacity 1.88 MW; Cabezas de San Juan (5.70 MW), Copero (0.90 MW) and Jaen Linares (1.89 MW). Abengoa owned 100% of these plants, with the exception of the installation of Copero, in which it owned a 50% stake.

This operation is part of the divestment policy of Abengoa and represents further progress in the feasibility process which the company is carrying out. Recently, Abengoa also announced the sale of the Campo Palomas wind farm in Uruguay, its participation in the Shams-1 solar power plant in United Arab Emirates, as well as the sale of other properties such as the company's former headquarters in Madrid.

Aalborg completes 127-meter solar tower in Australia

Aalborg CSP in collaboration with John Holland has completed the construction of a unique 127-meter tall tower for its integrated solar energy system project in the Australian desert, according to an Aalborg statement. More than 23,000 mirrors will soon harvest and reflect the sunrays onto the top of this solar tower to enable sustainable operation of large greenhouses.

The tower structure consists of nine sections and was assembled in 10 weeks. The top part, where the central receiver (boiler) is placed, altogether weighs 234 tons.

The Integrated Energy System will be able to heat the greenhouses in winter and on cold summer nights, provide fresh water by desalinating seawater drawn from the nearby Spencer Gulf and run a steam turbine to produce electricity.