Spanish firm Abengoa Solar announced on Monday it began operations of PS20, the largest solar power tower plant in the world, with the capacity to supply enough energy for 10,000 homes.

The facility located in Solucar Platform - near Seville, Spain - has a capacity of 20 megawatts, double the capacity of PS10 . It is made up of 1,255 mirrors which transmit solar radiation onto a receiver located in the top of a tower. The receiver produces steam which is converted into electricity generation by a turbine.

Abengoa said that it improved several aspects in this project such as a higher-efficiency receiver, various improvements in the control and operational systems and a better thermal energy storage system.

The project went through a successful three-day testing successful period before beginning commercial operation.

The technological breakthroughs we have achieved, coupled with our cumulative expertise, have enabled us to take a qualitative leap forward in our power tower technology, said Santiago Seage, CEO of Abengoa Solar in a statement.

Abengoa's plant replaces the emissions of approximately 12,000 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which a coal-fired plant would emit to deliver the same amount of electricity, the firm said.

Solar Energy