Dec 31 2009
Sopogy provides a total solution for renewable energy generation. The company utilizes a solar energy concentrator to increase energy production thereby, minimizing the costs. Thermal energy is generated using a concentrated MicroCSP. It generates working fluids of high temperature to drive thermal driven engines or organic rankine cycle power blocks.
Sopogy Solar Power Generation System
The solar power generation systems include photovoltaic, wind energy and conventional non-renewable fuel power plants, which use natural gas, coal or nuclear energy. The concentrated solar power parabolic trough technology utilizes an emission-free fuel source compared to the non-renewable technology. The conventional fixed PV panels, in general, have a 15% energy conversion efficiency. But solar thermal plants using MicroCSP can change the sun’s energy into heat through the parabolic solar concentrators. This heat energy can be used in an organic rankine cycle system or conventional steam-fired power plant to generate electricity.
Solar PV technology is suited for commercial and residential roof-tops, while solar thermal is suited for large-scale and centralized energy generation in the megawatt. Thermal energy storage can be utilized as a buffer and can extend or shift hours of power generation to match the structures of local utility peak prices. The solar power generation from Sopogy has a direct solar radiation capacity of 850W/m2. Its average output is 0.512kW per panel. The panel has a length of 12ft width of 5ft and has a centre to centre spacing of 8.5ft. The daily output of the panel is 2.56kWh and the annual output is 934kWh.