Fire smoke at CSP plant in Spain forces two small towns into lockdown

A fire broke out on Saturday afternoon at a 50-MW concentrated solar power (CSP) plant in the Spanish region of Extremadura, prompting local authorities to issue warnings to citizens in the vicinity to stay indoors and close windows and doors for the night due to potentially toxic smoke.

The city council of the town of Valdecaballeros said that the nearby Casablanca CSP plant leaked oil, which combusted and released a column of smoke that could be toxic if inhaled directly. Townspeople of Valdecaballeros and those living in Canamero, located some 30 kilometres (18.6 miles) away, were told to avoid walking through the streets and lock up.

The fire was under control late on Saturday, according to local news reports. No injuries were reported.

The Casablanca plant was built by Spanish construction contractor Grupo Cobra. According to the firm’s website, power at the plant “is generated from solar radiation through the heating thermal fluids (thermal oil or HTF) to around 390 [degrees Celsius]. This in turn heats water, generating steam used to drive a turbine connected to an electrical generator”.

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