ROOFTOP & SMALL-SCALE CONCENTRATING SOLAR POWER NOW COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE

Sopogy SopoFlare Rooftop Parabolic Mirror Collector

This system for rooftop mounting measures 8 feet long by about 2 feet high with a mirror width of about 2.5 feet.

Sopogy of Honolulu, HI announced on October 27, 2009 that the company is releasing the world’s first commercially available rooftop concentrating solar thermal power system.

Sopogy claims that its SopoFlare MicroCSP parabolic mirror system is priced at 30 percent cheaper than competing rooftop solar technologies.

According to the Sopogy Press Release:

“The system easily retrofits into existing facilities, reducing natural gas consumption (and) giving users an estimated 3-year payback on installation.”

“SopoFlare's compact design at 8 feet long by 2.5 feet wide is perfect for quick and easy installation by local HVAC and Plumbing professionals.”

“This brings concentrating solar power to the commercial and industrial facility in a cost effective, space efficient and contractor friendly solution.”

Sopogy’s products illustrate the range of scalability of concentrating solar thermal power (CSP/CSTP) installations. CSP/CSTP can provide utility-scale solar thermal electric power in excess of hundreds of megawatts as well as residential- and commercial-scale power in the range of a few kilowatts. In addition, CSP/CSTP can be used for air-conditioning, water heating, space heating, and commercial process heating.

Concentrating Solar Thermal Power (CSP/CSTP) has a significantly higher conversion efficiency of sunlight into energy. CSP/CSTP systems currently boast efficiencies ranging from about 20 to 40 percent compared with about 15 percent for most commercially available solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. CSP/CSTP systems also are able to produce excess heat during daylight hours that can be stored for use during cloud cover, darkness, or to supplement peak power demands.

Concentrating Solar Thermal Electric Power Generation Schematic showing Parabolic Trough Mirrors and Thermal Storage Tanks. Parabolic trough mirrors focus solar heat onto a fluid-filled pipe. The heated fluid is carried to storage and/or to a heat exchanger that heats water into steam. The steam runs the turbine that generates electricity.

Andasol 1 Concentrating Solar Thermal Electric Power Plant Parabolic Trough Mirrors & People for Scale

Andasol 1 is one of three similar CSTP plants constructed or planned in the Aldeire and La Calahorra area, Marquesao del Zenete Region, Granada Province, Spain

Andasol Power plants 1, 2, & 3 are each designed using 209,664 mirrors. The solar field peak efficiency is about 70 percent, and the annual average solar field peak efficiency is about 50 percent. Molten salt thermal storage retains enough heat for about 7.5 peak load hours of operation during cloudy or dark conditions, or in response to demand. Each of the three Andasol CSTP plants is rated at about 50 megawatts (MW) of power. The peak efficiency of each CSTP plant is about 28 percent, with an annual average efficiency of about 15 percent. The estimated lifespan of the power plants is at least 40 years.