Acciona Energia, Spain: Pre-assembled structures simplify fieldwork
Aluminium structures of up to 60 parts help shorten the installation time of Acciona’s CSP mounting systems.
Acciona is a global leader in the concentrated solar power industry (CSP), with several major installations in Spain and the U.S.
Preferred supplier since 2009
Sapa has been a preferred supplier of aluminium structures for the mounting systems of Acciona’s CSP units since 2009. Sapa delivers ready-to-use aluminium structures that are fabricated according to Acciona’s specifications.
Complex aluminium structures
Sapa provides Acciona with complex aluminium structures consisting of more than 60 components. Before pre-assembly, these components undergo different processing operations including cutting, drilling and punching.
Innovative packaging
As part of the tailored logistic solution, the structures are packaged with fast unpacking and easy mounting in mind. Local production in Spain and improvements of the production and logistic chain have gradually reduced Sapa’s delivery times to Acciona.
Aluminium benefits
Acciona shifted from steel to aluminium to reduce weight and lower life-cycle costs. The new aluminium structure weighs only a fraction of the previous steel solution. This has resulted in, for example, lower power consumption, easier mounting and longer service life of the solar module’s driver.
Growing volumes
The cooperation with Acciona marked the beginning of Sapa’s venture in the CSP business segment. New orders and increased volumes are proof of a successful cooperation. In 2009, Sapa delivered 500 tonnes of profiles and components to Acciona in Spain. A new 50-MW plant, planned for construction in 2010, will generate an additional 4,000 tonnes.
A perfect match
As a leading international infrastructure and energy group, Acciona was seeking a global partner who could deliver quality products with a high delivery precision while supporting their business interests in different local markets – a description that proved to match Sapa perfectly.