Thursday 14th July 2011. The Spanish Minister for Industry, Tourism and Trade, Miguel Sebastián, attended the opening of the first electric hybrid power station (solar/gas) in Hassi R’Mel (Algeria). The power plant was built by Solar Power Plant One (SPP1), a company in which the Spanish firm ABENER ENERGÍA and COFIDES are shareholders. The rest of SPP1’s share capital is held by two Algerian public companies: NEAL (New Energy Algeria) and SONATRACH.
The opening ceremony at Hassi R´Mel was presided over by the Algerian Minister for Mines and Energy, Youcef Yousfi. On behalf of Spain, the State Secretary for Energy, Fabrizio Hernández, the Vice- Chairman of ABENGOA, José B. Terceiro Lomba, and the Chairwoman of COFIDES, Remedios Romeo, all attended.
With total power of 150 MW, the Hassi R´Mel Integrated Solar Combined Cycle Power Plant will be only the second power plant in the world with this technology. The plant, an example of Hispano-Algerian cooperation, also includes a solar field capable of generating 6% of the total energy produced.
One of the advantages of the power plant will be the possibility of using it as a first step to adopting solar generation in the region. The combined use of solar energy as a resource in the region will help facilitate local acceptance of projects that foster the use of renewable energies. In this way, the parameters of sustainability required by the global demand for energy can be complied with.
