Comments on: Twin Solar Thermal Plants Commence Operation in Spain

By: Zachary Shahan

Zachary Shahan — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:25:00 +0000

Hmm, might be less efficient over there. Or trying really hard to create jobs

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:37:00 +0000

It seems like “4,500 workers” must be a mistake, or they’re using a *very* expansive of worker, including the guy who delivered pizza to a work crew, once.

By that figure, Valle workers are going to build the capacity to generate 71 MW-h/year per worker.
For comparison, the amount of power US workers are estimated to build ranges from 560 (Solana) to 1000 (Ivanpah) MW-h/year per construction worker, for CSP projects. PV projects do better still, ranging from 1000 (Alamosa) to 2300 (Desert Sunlight).
https://lpo.energy.gov/?page_id=45

By: Zachary Shahan

Zachary Shahan — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:43:00 +0000

i think that’s quite decent job creation for such a project

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:53:00 +0000

“Roughly 4,500 workers worked over 2,700,000 hours to build and launch the twin projects during the two construction years.” Nothing to scoff at.”

Something to scoff at: 2.7 million man-hours / 4500 workers = 600 hours/worker. Over two years.

According to NREL, for half the plant:
Construction Job-Years: 900
Annual O&M Jobs: 45
http://www.nrel.gov/csp/solarpaces/project_detail.cfm/projectID=13