While a growing number of countries around the world are closing their borders to prevent any further spreading of the coronavirus and COVID/19, China seems to have succeeded in turning the curve around. As a result, Aalborg CSP resumes work with the production of boiler components for the world’s largest solar energy project with storage. The use of masks for all personnel as well as sending everyone with symptoms home has been a decisive part of the Chinese industry's strategy. China is thus returning to its normal state, and Danish renewable energy specialist, Aalborg CSP, sees light ahead.

In February 2019, Aalborg CSP received the largest order in terms of megawatt power to deliver steam generator systems based on the leakage-free header-and-coil technology for three CSP plants in Dubai. 

Combined with a solar tower and a solar field consisting of PV (photovoltaic) panels, the three CSP plants constitute the world’s largest CSP project - Dubai 700MW CSP+250 MW PV Hybrid Project. A record-breaking project capable of generating 600 MW electricity up to 15 hours after sunset. 

Since the contract was signed in the beginning of 2019, the production of 42 heat exchangers and pressure vessels playing a significant role in the project has been full speed ahead.

Employees at Aalborg CSP’s subcontractor resumes work wearing masks after coronavirus outbreak.

Photo: Shanghai Boiler Works Co., Ltd.

However, the production has been put temporarily on hold in February due to the outbreak of the coronavirus. The production facilities in China, where the components are being produced have been closed down like the majority of the country’s other industries and factories. A step taken to contain the spreading of the virus.

“All our subcontractors in China haven been closed down for a longer duration, which is impacting the progress of the project. It is crucial to our clients as wells as our company’s job retention and performance that our projects can resume manufacturing”, says Svante Bundgaard, CEO of Aalborg CSP. 

With all employees wearing masks, the machines are up and running again and the work can continue under the safety measures implemented by Aalborg CSP's subcontractor, Shanghai Boiler Works Co., Ltd.- who have not experienced any further spreading of the virus.

“Both our customers and suppliers in China have told us that masks have done the difference in the country. If they haven’t been able to gain access to masks, they have used homemade ones instead. I have seen pictures of people wearing bras, water containers and orange peels as masks. This combined with an aggressive testing and containment strategy has gotten the country back on track. It is good for China, and it is good for Aalborg CSP as well, as we are now able to deliver the project with minimum delays for the client” says Svante Bundgaard, CEO of Aalborg CSP. 

The production of steam drums and heat exchangers for the world’s largest solar energy project is resumed wearing masks after coronavirus outbreak in China. Photo: Shanghai Boiler Works Co., Ltd.

World’s best heat exchangers for high pressure and fatigue

The steam generation systems – consisting of a number of heat exchangers – supplied by Aalborg CSP for the world’s largest solar energy project makes use of a unique leakage-free design. The components are designed to withstand frequent starts/stops and daily cyclical load changes, which normally results in a high stress profile and fatigue. The header-coil design reduces these effects and significantly reduces the number of failures over the lifetime expectancy of the equipment. This results in high availability, low operation and maintenance cost and high reliability for the customers. 

When completed, the solar park will provide clean energy to more than 270,000 residences in Dubai, while reducing the carbon emissions by 1.4 million tonnes per year.

About Aalborg CSP A/S

Aalborg CSP A/S is a leading developer and supplier of innovative renewable technologies aiming at changing the way energy is produced today. Relying on extensive experience from some of the most efficient concentrated solar power (CSP) projects around the world, the company designs and delivers green technologies and integrated energy systems to lower the cost of energy for industries and power plants worldwide.

Aalborg CSP places strong focus on R&D activities and partners with knowledge-based companies and institutions to create leading-edge technologies. As a result, the Aalborg CSP engineering design is centred on a value-adding concept providing solutions that excel in operation, increase plant revenue and contribute to a greener future.

Headquartered in Aalborg (Denmark) and with sales & service office in Spain, Aalborg CSP has realised cost effective green energy solutions to a variety of industries worldwide.

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