News

25 September 2009

 

SolFocus to supply 8.5MWp of CPV systems to Portugese utility

Concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) system maker SolFocus Inc of Mountain View, CA, USA says that, in partnership with Portuguese group Dreen Europe, it has agreed to install 8.5MW of peak power (MWp) CPV systems at the facilities of utility firm Águas de Portugal (ADP).

The deal is part of ADP Group’s plan to invest over €830m by 2014 in renewable energy projects, with a goal of covering 3% of the electricity needs and avoiding the import of 4 million barrels of oil and the emission of 724,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2).

SolFocus is partnering on the project with developer Dreen Europe Re-energy. A test array was installed this year in one of Dreen’s Europe facilities to allow the utility to gain experience and understanding of SolFocus’ CPV technology. Project deployment will begin in early 2010 for the first 2MW, with the balance deployed in phases over the next four years.

“As global delegates consider climate goals at the upcoming Copenhagen climate discussions, this agreement comes at a critical time for delivering low-cost solar energy to progressive markets like Portugal,” says SolFocus CEO & president Mark Crowley. The firm’s CPV systems are claimed to have a solar conversion efficiency of more than 25%. “Now one of the largest CPV projects in Europe, this project puts Portugal on a steep trajectory of driving energy costs down at a very rapid rate,” he adds.

“Investing in new and disruptive technologies such as SolFocus CPV is key to driving the global initiative for higher renewable energy usage,” comments ADP board member Antonio Branco.

SolFocus’ CPV design uses a system of reflective optics (curved mirrors) to concentrate sunlight 650 times onto highly efficient gallium arsenide-based solar cells (on germanium substrates) that have high solar energy conversion efficiency (approaching 40%, more than twice that of traditional silicon solar cells).

Like its smaller SF-1000S system (approved by the CEC last September), the firm’s second product (the SF-1100S, launched last November) uses about a thousandth of the active solar cell material compared to traditional silicon-based PV panels, but boosts panel conversion efficiency from 18% to more than 25%. The firm says that, in high solar regions such as Portugal, such efficiency can accelerate the trajectory for solar energy to reach grid parity with fossil fuels.

See related item:

City of Mesa to showcase SolFocus CPV technology from NREL PV Incubator Program

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Visit: www.solfocus.com