The mining industry is one of the applications where solar thermal technology has seen the highest growth in installed capacity: high energy prices, land availability and the fact that relatively low temperatures are required make locations with high solar radiation very attractive for developing solar thermal projects.

That said, experience has revealed the weaknesses of transferring the solar thermal solutions of conventional residential applications to the particularities of the mining environment. CODELCO, the Chilean national mining company, is aware of its potential and limitations and has funded the development and demonstration of a collector design specific for the needs of the mining industry.

AIGUASOL is in charge of designing and demonstrating of this novel solution, which opens a new avenue in the technology used to manufacture and implement solar collectors.