SENER ET MASDAR ANNONCENT LA CREATION D'UNE COENTREPRISE POUR DEVELOPPER DES CENTRALES D'ENERGIE SOLAIRE A CONCENTRATION

SENER ET MASDAR ANNONCENT LA CREATION D'UNE COENTREPRISE POUR DEVELOPPER DES CENTRALES D'ENERGIE SOLAIRE A CONCENTRATION DANS LA " CEINTURE DU SOLEIL "


Cette initiative promet des avancées majeures dans la compétitivité du coût de génération d'énergie solaire

Bilabao, Espagne, le 12 mars 2008 - SENER GRUPO DE INGENIERÍA, S.A. et MASDAR, société spécialisée dans les énergies alternatives de l'émirat Abu Dhabi, annoncent aujourd'hui la création de la coentreprise Torresol Energy qui aura pour but de concevoir, construire et exploiter de grandes centrales d'énergie solaire à concentration dans les régions de la zone solaire. Un des principaux objectifs de Torresol Energy est de faire adopter de plus en plus l'énergie solaire par concentration et de la rendre plus compatible avec le réseau de distribution.

This joint venture will commence work on three solar power plants in Spain with an approximate combined value of E800 million, one of which will be a CSP Central Tower Receiver System. This technology will feature the first-ever commercial deployment of the industry-changing technology, and will set the standards for anticipated CSP projects across the Sunbelt countries by 2012. Independently of Torresol Energy, MASDAR is developing CSP plants in Abu Dhabi, and their flagship plant "Shams 1" is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2010.

In every new project Torresol Energy expects to introduce and test new technologies with the long term objectives of making CSP a very competitive and reliable technology, achieving a sustainable leading position in this sector and contributing to the protection of the environment for future generations. SENER has been working for almost a decade in the development of solar thermal power technology. The company is presently designing and building, in a joint venture, three 50 Mw parabolic through plants with molten salt storage in Spain. SENER has also devised and tested innovative solutions for CSP tower plants and has started the detailed design of Central Receiver Plants. The company expects to apply all these solutions in the projects of Torresol Energy and also for other clients worldwide.

SENER President and CEO, Jorge Sendagorta, and MASDAR CEO, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, announced the launch of Torrresol Energy in joint remarks at the Diputación Foral de Bizkaia, where the press conference where held.

Torresol Energy comes from the common vision of SENER and MASDAR to build a leading global company for the generation of reliable power from solar energy and contribute to the protection of the environment for future generations. "We also have a shared mission: to invest globally in profitable and efficient concentrating solar power plants and to pioneer new techonologies and drive down the future costs of generation", said Jorge Sendagorta. "MASDAR is committed to developing and delivering future energy solutions. And the Torresol CSP technology promises to be the technology that will revolutionize the way we draw energy from the sun" said Al Jaber. . "Partnering with SENER will accelerate our objective of creating the scale and technology improvements required for a wider adoption of CSP technology while fulfilling our mandate to the Abu Dhabi government's alternative energy program".

SENER will own a 60 percent share of Torresol Energy, with MASDAR owning the remaining 40 percent.

About SENER

SENER is a privately owned engineering and technology group founded in Bilbao (Spain) in 1956. With sales of 790 ME and a workforce exceeding 4.500 professionals, the company is renown for its innovations, commitment to quality and indepence. SENER three major business lines include Environmental & Energy, Engineering and the Aerospace.

To learn more about SENER, please visit: www.sener.es

About MASDAR

MASDAR is the Abu Dhabi government's initiative for the creation of a comprehensive, multifaceted, and global alternative energy development program. MASDAR's approach to clean energy is comprehensive, and includes education, knowledge sharing, investment, technological innovation, and practical applications - in unprecedented proportions.

To learn more about the MASDAR Initiative, and MASDAR City, please visit: www.masdaruae.com

For b-roll, renderings, fly-through animation or stills, please visit: http://thenewsmarket.com/masdar

Media contacts

From SENER:

Oihana Casas Tel 91 807 73 18 E-mail: [email protected]
Pilar García Tel. 91 807 72 41 E-mail: [email protected]

From MASDAR:

Michael Iacovella, +1 212 704 8254, [email protected]

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