PLATAFORMA SOLAR DE ALMERÍA: 12 YEARS PROMOTING THE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SOLAR THERMAL ENERGY APPLICATIONS THROUGH THE LARGE-SCALE FACILITIES PROGRAMS OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION

摘要

The Plataforma Solar de Almería (CIEMAT-PSA) is an installation which belongs to the Spanish ‘Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas’ (CIEMAT) of the Ministry of Science and Technology. rnThe PSA is the largest solar test centre in Europe and is recognised as one of the 3 foremost such centres in the world. The accumulated experience and sophisticated installations offered to European researchers in the solar energy R&D fields are unequalled by any other facility. rnAs one of CIEMAT’s goals is to disseminate knowledge about renewable energies, the PSA has been leading the way concerning solar thermal. rnThis task has been enormously favoured by the European Commission DGXII’s policy, as the effort to create a real European Research Area is one of the most important priorities, and sharing the use of unique research facilities is basic for that purpose. rnPSA has participated in consecutive access programs since 1990, opening its doors to researchers of high scientific level across Europe. rnThe facilities offered cover a wide range of applications: electricity generation, materia ls treatment, desalination, photocatalysis or passive architecture. rnThis work intends to review this 12-year period of learning exchange with scientific visitors under the umbrella of those programs.