Abengoa buys a 50% stake in two thermosolar plants in Spain

Spanish firm Abengoa has acquired a 50 percent stake in two concentrated solar power plants in Cordoba, Spain, from E.ON Spain.Abengoa has paid roughly €200 million (US$223 million) for the assets and now controls the entire share capital. Abengoa exercised its right of first refusal on the price that Macquarie was willing to pay for them.The first plant acquired, 50 MW Helioenergy 1, went into operation in September 2011, and the second, 50 MW Helioenergy 2, in January 2012. The total investment for each project was €250 million (US$278.7 million).Helioenergy 1 and Helioenergy 2 have been operated by a partnership formed by Abengoa Yield, Abengoa Solar and E.ON since 2009.The two plants have a total of 121,000 mirrors which concentrate the sunlight to generate steam at temperatures around 400º C. The solar field is over 540 acres, the equivalent of 300 soccer fields. Each plant produces enough electricity to satisfy the needs of 26,000 households and offsets 31,400 tons of CO₂ emissions annually.Last month we reported that Arise had acquired the 33 MW Mombyasen wind farm project rights from E.ON Wind Sweden AB. The project was originally developed by E.ON Wind Sweden AB.