The Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness, through the General Secretariat of Science and Innovation, has signed a cooperation agreement with the Research Center for energy, environment and technology (CIEMAT) for the execution of the Project "Ampliación, Mejora, Renovación y Remodelación de la Plataforma Solar de Almería, Segunda Fase. SolarNOVA-II” (ICTS-2017-03-CIEMAT-04) (“Expansion, Improvement, Renovation and Remodelling of the Intelligent Development 2014-2020 Operational Program).

The main goal of this action is to carry out the second phase of the expansion, improvement and remodelling of the ITC facilities and equipment in order to maintain the Plataforma Solar de Almería leading position in its scientific and technological field of research.

This ambitious project encompasses for  the following sub-tasks:

• Refurbishing several buildings at PSA for energy efficiency enhancement and quality of the workplace
• Refurbishing of the basic scientific facilities at PSA (CESA-1, CRS and auxiliary facilities) and dismantling of disused facilities.  
• Actions for greenhouse gas effect reduction
• Renovation of Experimental parabolic trough collectors loops
• Extension of the Optical and thermal characterization pilot plant (PPTL) with the set-up and operation of new collector loops in the PTTL facility.
• New equipment in the absorber tubes and optical aging characterization laboratories
• New central receiver systems
• Solar Furnace improvements
• Field analitycal equipment for high temperature solar processes
• Extension of the PSA electronic and telecoms infrastructure
• Adaptation of the solar thermal desalination plant MEDsol-14 and new small capacity facilities
• Erection of New Small Capacity solar desalination systems
•  Acquisition of new equipment for solar water treatment
• Renovation of the existing equipment for solar water treatment

The Project has 11.996.375€ total budget, of which 80% comes from FEDER funds and 20% from national funds.