Apr 18 2013
Outokumpu has won another contract for a pioneering Crescent Dunes solar plant project in Tonopah, Nevada, USA. In addition to 650 tonnes of stainless quarto plate, Outokumpu will also supply more than 60 tonnes of lean duplex LDX2101®.
Crescent Dunes April 2013 (construction) - photo courtesy of Cobra
Tonopah Solar has commissioned a solar energy plant to provide some 100 megawatts of clean, renewable and sustainable energy. The Crescent Dunes is the first project of its kind, designed by Cobra Thermosolar Plants and Solar Reserve, using a molten salt power tower and heliostat technology by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne. The energy captured from the sun is used to power a conventional steam turbine generator to produce electricity. The solar panels on the pedestal turn in two different ways, which enables the panels to follow the sun and capture its energy more efficiently.
Outokumpu will supply more than 60 tonnes of 70 mm hot-rolled black bar in LDX2101®, Outokumpu’s patented lean duplex grade, from its mill in Sheffield, UK. This material will be further machined to create zenithal anchor bolts, or the mounting bolts of the solar panels, which allow the solar panels to turn in two planes.
“After a successful start with the hot storage tank, where Outokumpu supplied our subcontractor quarto plate and where we have been satisfied with the material, when we started to look for suppliers for the zenithal anchor bolts, we contacted Outokumpu and requested an offer. As usual, the technical explanations and credibility of the technician contact at Outokumpu convinced us about the properties, capabilities and possibilities of the products and provided us all the information and arguments we needed to make the decision,” says José Manuel Suárez, Procurement and Subcontracting Director at Cobra Thermosolar Plants.
Outokumpu’s product portfolio is the broadest on the market, covering all stainless steel grades and high-performance alloys. The Crescent Dunes project is a good example of how Outokumpu’s wide range of products can meet the needs of various applications in demanding projects.
The deliveries of both quarto plate and hot-rolled black bar are under way. The solar plant will start operations in the beginning of 2014 to provide clean and renewable energy for customers in California and Nevada.