Planned city in Algeria to be powered by gas-solar-hybrid power plant.
Algeria is planning a new city from scratch and hopes to turn it into a technology-hub. It will be built next to the town Boughezoul.
http://thinkafricapress.com/algeria/boughezoul-flawed-new-model-urbanism-algeria
http://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/technik/solartechnik-pilotprojekt-soll-algerische-retortenstadt-versorgen-a-945374.html
(article in german)
A new type of solar power plant will provide it with energy. It has been developed in Germany and the prototype has been running since 2008, producing 1.5 Megawatt. 2153 mirrors reflect sunlight on a receiver which heats water to 700°C. The steam is converted via a turbine into electricity.
The power plant for Boughezoul will be named "Alsol" and will be the first of its kind in Africa. It will provide 7 Megawatt and will cost €35M. As the heat only lasts for 7 hours max without sunshine, a generator burning gas will be installed as a back-up.
It is estimated that the electricity will cost about 10-15 cent per kWh. The german scientists and various politicians hope to sell these kinds of solar power plants to Middle-Eastern countries like Saudi-Arabia and Qatar.
Research continues: The next step is a solar power plant that produces hydrogen.
