The Andasol 3 solar power plant, a joint effort between Stadtwerke München and RWE Innogy, with the help from MAN Ferrostaal, Rhein Energie and Solar Millenium, is under construction and planned for delivery in 2011. The new power plant, located right next to the recently inaugurated Andasol 1 and Andasol 2 power plants in southern Spain, will have 50 MW of installed solar power capacity, making it one of the largest parabolic trough solar power plants in the world.

Older picture showing Andasol 1,2 and 3 solar park areas. (Image credit: Solar Millenium)

The power plant has been developed by German solar company Solar Millenium AG. Marquesado Solar SL project ownership structure is 48.9% Stadtwerke München, 25.5% RWE Innogy and Rhein Energie, while the remaining 26% is owned by an investment company jointly owned by MAN Ferrostaal and Solar Millenium.

The power plant will use huge molten salt thermal storage systems to allow power generation during night hours and periods of low insolation. The German partners in this venture are very interested in the parabolic trough technology, hoping to use this technology for supplying German consumers with clean electrical energy in the near future. Andasol 3 is almost identical  to the already operating Andasol 1 and 2 power plants. Once completed, the three power plants will jointly supply some 450,000 average Spanish households with clean electricity.

Andasol 3 is already at an advanced construction stage, with early works completed as much as possible. Foundations for collector mountings are currently being cast, while the assembly of the collectors and their incorporation into the solar park are soon to follow.