LINTHICUM, Md.--Hydro's Americas unit has signed an agreement with Florida Power & Light (FPL) to supply custom aluminum extrusions for what is reportedly the first hybrid solar and fossil fuel energy-generating facility in the world. When it comes online in early 2010, the Martin Next Generation Solar Energy Center will produce 75 MW; it will be the world's second-largest solar plant and the largest outside of California.

The Indiantown, Fla., facility will employ concentrated solar power (CSP) technology to produce electricity. The process uses parabolic mirrors to capture solar heat, which produces steam that turns a generating turbine. Hydro will produce the frames, supports, legs, and connectors that will raise the 180,000 curved mirrors off the ground and allow them to track the sun throughout the day. Manufacturing plants in St. Augustine, Fla., and Belton, S.C. will supply the parts, provide fabricating, and coordinate just-in-time deliveries for the frames used in the 500-acre collecting field.

"Being in Florida was important to securing this agreement," said Matt Dionne, Hydro's southeast regional vice president. "It means that less energy is used and fewer emissions released to transport parts to FPL's location. It also helps focus the positive economic contribution from this project in Florida."

The extruded aluminum frames are lightweight, yet provide enough torsional strength to withstand hurricanes. The manufacturing process allows the frames, which contain a high percentage of recycled aluminum, to be machined to precise tolerances for quick assembly.

"With this project, Hydro is transferring technology gained on its prior CSP projects from its Phoenix plant to its Belton and St. Augustine plants," said Allan Bennett, vice president of solar market development for Hydro Extrusion Americas. "That gives Hydro technical competence and capacity across the country to serve the solar market as it grows. When this project is complete, our portfolio will include aluminum support structures used in generating nearly 300 megawatts of electricity via concentrated solar power, more than any other company in the world."

The solar energy generation system will connect to FPL's existing combined-cycle power plant, allowing the solar thermal capacity to directly displace fossil fuel. The plant will use less fossil fuel during daylight hours when the solar system is helping produce the steam needed to generate electricity. It will produce approximately 155,000 MW of power annually, enough power to serve about 11,000 homes.

In North America, Hydro (www.hydroextrusions.com) provides aluminum supply sourcing, extrusion, finishing, and fabrication of components, as well as engineering and contract manufacturing services, for a variety of industries.

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