Dow targets growing Middle East solar market at

Dow Heat Transfer Fluids, a global business unit of The Dow Chemical Company, is seeking to target the growing market for solar power in the Middle East by showcasing its innovative range of solutions at the MENASOL 2012 4th North Africa & Middle East Solar Conference & Expo. The event takes place in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, on 16 and 17 May 2012. The Company is exhibiting in booth # 9. 

“The Middle East is seeing significant investment in solar power as the region seeks to adopt sustainable sources of energy, a fact that is emphasized by recent announcements and ongoing initiatives,” said Carolina Barrios, Market Development Manager for Dow Heat Transfer Fluids. “This is a market that holds a tremendous amount of potential and we are keen to showcase our total solution approach to serving the region’s Concentrated Solar Power industry.” 

Barrios said Dow’s continual growth in the CSP industry has led to the use of DOWTHERM A heat transfer fluid in more than 24 large scale CSP installations globally with a total power generation capacity of more than 1 GW. DOWTHERM A is a specialized heat transfer fluid with a 75-year track record in high temperature service and an ability to withstand temperatures up to 400° C. Its proven track record, stability, and low viscosity throughout its entire operating range have made DOWTHERM A the leading fluid for CSP projects globally. 

The Company creates innovative production and logistic solutions to meet the high volume fluid requirements of CSP plants. Included are complex fluid staging and delivery systems to meet narrow installation timeframes at plants in often remote locations. 

Dow’s commitment to CSP innovation includes advancements in CSP system technology. The Company’s innovative dual loop CSP design improves efficiency and lowers operational costs by leveraging the proven reliability of DOWTHERM™ A and the high temperature capabilities of molten salt to produce 10 percent more electricity than a conventional CSP system with the same size solar field. 

Dow also offers a diverse range of engineering support services and training programs to help operators monitor and maintain fluids, ensuring maximum system efficiency with minimum downtime. 

How CSP Works

CSP uses parabolic mirrors to reflect and magnify heat from the sun onto a closed circulating loop containing DOWTHERM™ A heat transfer fluid. The fluid collects the heat energy and transports it to a power station where it is used to produce steam, which drives turbines to generate electricity. 

Solar power technology like CSP offers many advantages in regions that require reliable new sources of energy. The technology helps diversify energy supply, is capable of producing power during periods of peak demand, and reduces dependence on fossil fuels. When used instead of fossil fuel generation plants, CSP facilities offer improved air quality and can help many nations to address off-set goals for carbon emission produced by existing fossil fuel power plants. Unlike photovoltaic solar power and wind energy technologies, CSP plants can operate in conjunction with cost-effective thermal storage technology to deliver energy on-demand, making CSP a highly flexible source of renewable energy.