by Rebecca Walker — December 14, 2009—Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Sopogy, Inc. inaugurated what is says is the world’s first MicroCSP Solar Thermal Plant at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii.
The 2-Megawatt thermal energy project, which spans 3.8 acres, utilizes 1,000 Sopogy proprietary MicroCSP solar panels. Through the use of mirrors and optics and an integrated sun tracker, these panels achieve higher efficiencies than conventional solar panels, says Sopogy.
The system also uses a unique thermal energy storage buffer that allows energy to be produced during cloudy periods and to shift energy produced from the day to evening periods.
The project name: “Holaniku at Keahole Point” comes from the Hawaiian term for a location that has everything required for self-sufficiency.
With the completion of Holaniku, Sopogy now has 8 solar thermal energy facilities operating around the world. Sopogy’s MicroCSP technologies are being used in such diverse applications including process heat, solar air conditioning, rooftop deployment and now power generation.
Founded in 2002, Sopogy specializes in MicroCSP solar technologies that bring the economics of large solar energy systems to the industrial, commercial and utility sectors in a smaller, robust and more cost effective package. Sopogy’s goal is to create solar solutions that improve the quality of life and simplify the solar power business. For more information, see the Web site.
