Abu Dhabi: A coffee machine that runs on solar energy has heralded an ambitious renewable energy project in Abu Dhabi.
The solar coffee machine, which makes espresso using solar energy, demonstrates how Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) technology works, a senior official at Masdar Power, a unit of the government-owned Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), told Gulf News recently.
The coffee machine was unveiled at the Organic Market organised by Masdar at the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology.
Olaf Goebel, head of Engineering at Masdar Power, said the coffee machine would help explain how solar power would be produced at Shams 1 — a major 100 megawatt (MW) project under construction, which will power the city of 100,000 people by July 2012.
Joint venture
Masdar Power is a developer and operator of renewable energy generation projects. It is developing Shams 1, in joint venture with Abengoa Solar and Total, in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi. Shams 1 is set to be the largest CSP plant in the world.
CSP technology uses mirrors to concentrate sunlight energy and convert it into heat, which then drives a steam turbine and generates electricity.
Goebel referred to the technology at work in the coffee machine as "concentrating solar coffee" as he served espressos to visitors.
The machine consists of a half-litre water tube fitted at the centre of a solar panel and whose tip can keep coffee powder. When the tube is heated up using solar energy, the water in the tube quickly reaches boiling point and is mixed with the coffee powder.
Goebel said the machine is not meant for domestic or commercial use because of the inconvenience related to its size.
It just demonstrates how an abundantly available energy source — solar power — can be tapped, he added.
Masdar Power makes direct investments in individual projects in all areas of renewable energy, with a focus on CSP technology, photovoltaic solar energy and on and offshore wind energy.
Through these and future projects, Masdar Power will contribute to Abu Dhabi's goal of generating seven per cent of its energy needs from renewable sources.
