SkyFuel Introduces Patented Solar Reflectors to Improve Energy Generation

SkyFuel has received the coveted CSP Commercialized Technology Innovation of the Year award for its patented SkyTrough technology. The award is created to emphasize a viable expertise that establishes a novel advancement in the use of concentrating and collecting solar energy technology that can be used commercially.

The SkyTrough introduced by SkyFuel, utilizes a large scale parabolic trough solar concentrator to receive the solar energy to produce the steam required for electric power generation.

The SkyTrough, unlike the earlier parabolic trough concentrating solar collectors that used easy to break and glass based mirror elements, incorporates the ReflecTech-based reflectors to collect solar power. The ReflecTech mirror film technology jointly developed by National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) and SkyFuel is fixed over 0.05" aluminum base by a lamination process to produce unbreakable large sized mirrors that weigh less than half the weight of the conventionally utilized drooped glass mirrors. The low cost and higher reflectivity of silverized polymer film utilized in the product proved tough in all the weathering tests performed by the test lab of NREL and is certified to last over 20 years. The new light weight and bigger sized panels can be installed easily and does not require any type of optical correction. The solar panels and the related parabolic shapes are kept over an accurately designed guide track and held securely by an aluminum space frame. The whole set up can be easily installed at any preferred location thus reducing the costs on erection.

Kelly Beninga, Chief Commercial Officer at SkyFuel, said that his company is discussing with project developing companies and Engineering Procurement Contractors to contract a commercial installation accord in the first half of 2011. He added that the new SkyTrough product delivers high performance at low cost thus serving the need for reducing the prevailing cost in the renewable energy power production.