The Plataforma Solar de Almería (PSA) is a CIEMAT public researchc centre, formally considered by the European Commission as an European Large Scientific Installation. It is also the largest and most complete R&D center in the world devoted to solar thermal concentrating systems. PSA is integrated in the CIEMAT organization as an R&D division of the Department of Energy.
PSA is located in southeastern Spain, in the Tabernas Desert. It receives a direct annual insolation of more than 1900 kWh/(m2•year) and the average annual temperature is around 17ºC. PSA counts with over 30 years of experience in the operation, maintenance and evaluation of solar thermal concentrating systems, their components and different types of commercial applications. At present, PSA has a large variety of experimental installations and laboratories for R&D activities related to solar thermal concentrating systems.
