Archimede Solar Energy — a joint venture between Angelantoni Industrie and Siemens Energy — has laid down the first stone at the new receiver production facility in Massa Martana, Italy on January 22. Starting in early 2011, the plant will have an annual production capacity of about 75,000 solar receivers. Afterwards, the capacity will be increased to 140,000 tubes per year. The solar receivers produced in this receiver plant use molten salt as heat transfer medium instead of thermo oil.

Commenting on the news, Archimede Solar Energy's CEO, Federica Angelantoni, said: "The new plant gives us the opportunity to supply large volumes of high temperature receivers for the use of molten salt. These tubes can reach a temperature of up to 550 Celsius."

The use of molten salt in the receivers can significantly increase the efficiency of solar-thermal power plants. If required, molten salt is used for heat storage, allowing the stored energy to be used for power generation at night.

[source: Siemens]