▁of ▁the ▁plant ; ▁third , ▁the ▁site ▁is ▁at ▁a ▁high ▁elev ation ▁providing ▁stronger ▁sun light . ▁The ▁land ▁chosen ▁for ▁the ▁plant ▁is ▁on ▁a ▁slope ▁between ▁ 6 ° ▁and ▁ 1 8 ° , ▁which ▁is ▁suitable ▁for ▁a ▁power ▁tower . ▁ ▁THE M IS ▁research ▁and ▁development ▁centre ▁▁ ▁Research ▁and ▁development ▁is ▁focused ▁on ▁solar ▁energy , ▁and ▁THE M IS ▁is ▁a ▁research ▁facility ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁a ▁phot ov olta ic ▁power ▁facility ▁and ▁a ▁solar ▁thermal ▁energy ▁plant . ▁ ▁THE M IS ▁solar ▁thermal ▁energy ▁▁ ▁The ▁plant ▁had ▁a ▁power ▁output ▁of ▁ 2 ▁M W ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 3 . ▁It ▁was ▁based ▁on ▁an ▁array ▁of ▁ 2 0 1 ▁mirror s ▁which ▁he ated ▁a ▁cav ity ▁receiver ▁( a ▁cav ity ▁l ined ▁with ▁cool ant ▁tub es ) ▁at ▁the ▁top ▁of ▁a ▁ 1 0 0   m ▁tower ▁where ▁the ▁cool ant ▁( m ol ten ▁sal ts ) ▁carried ▁the ▁thermal ▁energy ▁to ▁a ▁steam ▁generator , ▁itself ▁power ing ▁an ▁electric ▁tur bine . ▁The ▁mol ten ▁sal ts ▁were ▁pot ass ium ▁nit rate ▁( 5 3 % ), ▁sod ium ▁nit rite ▁( 4 0 %) ▁and ▁sod ium ▁nit rate ▁( 7 %). ▁The ▁cool ant ▁entry ▁temperature ▁was ▁ 2 5 0   ° C ▁and ▁the ▁exit ▁temperature ▁ 4 5 0   ° C . ▁Ste am ▁was ▁produced ▁in ▁the ▁generator ▁at