A US solar energy company has announced the commissioning of North America’s biggest commercial solar dish, one of the largest concentrated photovoltaic solar (CSP) thermal dish collectors in the world.
Southwest Solar Technologies say the mammoth TurboSolar dish will form the centrepiece of their 18-acre solar research park in Phoenix, Arizona.
At about 75 feet in diameter, the dish has a solar collection area of over 320 square metres, three times more than standard solar dish designs. The company says this will enable it to generate more solar energy at a much higher capacity than other solar dish-types using less space, a vital element of the cost versus return equation for solar power stations.
The TurboSolar dish works by capturing and directing solar energy using parabolic mirrors to reflect sunlight into a receiver in the centre of the dish. When concentrated at this focal point, the sun’s rays heat compressed air to almost 1000°C. This superheated air drives turbines that generate clean electricity.
Southwest Solar say that by up-sizing the collection area of the dish, they have made a breakthrough in concentrated solar turbine generator technology. The company are currently testing the TurboSolar dish to evaluate its ability to deliver saleable energy to the electricity grid from Southwest’s Solar Research Park. The facility will be used to further innovation into the field of concentrated solar energy.
"This is an important milestone for our company," says Herb Hayden, Chief Technical Officer. "The facility combines our operational headquarters with a uniquely placed research and development complex for others that are seeking to advance solar technology."
