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Sopogy – Microcsp Sopogy – MicroCSP July 2009 A Scalable Solar Solution for Distributed Generation, Process Heating & Solar Air‐Conditioning Hawaii Solutions Center: 2660 Waiwai Loop, Honolulu, HI 96819 (866) 767‐ 6491 West Coast: 1735 Technology Drive, Suite 400, San Jose, CA 95110 (408) 660‐ 1212 Sopogy White Paper 2 Sopogy Electricity, Heating, Cooling. TM utilizes the same basic Incorporated in 2006, in Honolulu, Hawaii. MicroCSP technological concepts as the large utility- We are a team of enthusiastic engineers out scale CSP systems, however the smaller to change the world for the better. In a very scale MicroCSP™ systems allow for short time we have innovated a NEW solar deployment in areas where only acres or technology, which we call MicroCSPTM. It is a scalable solar solution, which enables cost- effective distributed generation of electricity, process heating, and cooling in a single system. We are now busy bringing affordable electricity, drinking water, heating, and cooling to all regions of the world. Here is how it works and why it matters. TM MicroCSP tens of acres of land are available, rather than the hundreds or even thousands of Sopogy has pioneered a new approach to acres required for its larger scale Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) called counterpart. MicroCSP™, a highly modular and scalable technology that is particularly suitable for MicroCSPTM technology also incorporates distributed generation in the range of 250kW several design and manufacturing – 20 MW. Below this level, photovoltaic innovations that dramatically reduce the cost units have established an expensive, but and increase the flexibility of concentrating flexible solution, while utility-scale CSP solar energy applications. A particularly installations dominate power production in important breakthrough has been Sopogy’s the > 50 megawatts range. The same development of smaller-scale parabolic- system can also provide process heating to a wide range of natural gas offsetting applications such as crop drying and food preparation. Industrial processes such as biofuels production, water purifications, desalination and absorption chiller air conditioning for commercial buildings completes the tri-generation capability of MicroCSP: Sopogy White Paper 3 trough collectors that can be built at a lower in environments previously thought to be too cost, using commonly available harsh for solar technologies. Maintenance manufacturing facilities and conventional costs of these systems are also reduced due materials. The NEW lightweight “airplane to both the modular nature and use of wing” constructions enables commodity Sopogy to ship the materials in collectors unassembled the system in flat packs, thus design. As greatly reducing with all shipping and solar CO2 costs to the technologies, planet. MicroCSPTM Using off-the- systems provide self sheet metal power when construction, our valued most by unique IP can be the utility and the deployed worldwide and customer, which is expand quickly without the during peak cost of expensive NEW demand fabrication facilities, like periods. those needed for Silicon PV MicroCSPTM or thin-film PV technologies. systems can also The modules are mounted into an array, economically store its solar thermal energy which tracks the sun and circulates the heat to extend power production beyond the solar transfer fluid. Because of this modular day or to shift power delivery to the period TM nature, MicroCSP arrays are suitable for of greatest value to the customer. To installations ranging in size from a single accomplish the same feat, PV is forced to rely on battery storage, which is still cost prohibitive for large-scale applications. Finally, MicroCSP systems can also be paired with a back-up boiler to guarantee firm and reliable power delivery 365 days per year. MicroCSPTM System Applications Sopogy offers modular designs that are adaptable to a specific site’s needs and conditions, which are readily deployed and site constructed. As such, MicroCSPTM provides electric utilities with new options for distributed generation applications and for Sopogy Kona Solar Field displacing natural gas in existing thermal applications. rooftop to a large solar field. All components are enclosed in an aerodynamic, rust- Power Generation and Hybrid Designs resistant housing, which makes the modules TM suitable for use in climates ranging from MicroCSP can meet a variety of power deserts to tropical environments. Arrays are needs for an assortment of small-to-medium rotated into a protective downward-facing applications. In particular, this technology position at night and during inclement fills the solar electricity gap between the 250 weather, which makes these systems viable kW and 20 MW generating capacity. MicroCSP TM systems offer the utility an Sopogy White Paper 4 option of installing these small, stand-alone Thermal Energy Applications units as distributed generation applications to meet rising loads in a fast-growing area, Significant opportunities exist for MicroCSP TM rather than having to build a large power to provide high temperature thermal heat plant or new transmission lines. in the range of 200-350ºF to supplement existing process heat needs. The market for For customers with both power and process such natural gas offsets is particularly heat needs on site, a hybrid MicroCSP TM promising in rural industrial sectors—to include agriculture, biofuels and food processing operations. Applications such as crop or product drying, dehumidification, disinfection and desalination are prime candidates for using heat from MicroCSPTM systems. In addition, many industrial and commercial facilities could use this technology to offset their use of natural gas for water heating and absorption cooling systems. Utilities could also benefit by using these systems to supply heat to the “bottoming” steam cycle in a combined-cycle generating plant, system can be installed to meet this dual thus increasing the plant’s overall efficiency and offsetting its own use of natural gas. Process Heating System Given the current high cost of natural gas, power-and-heat generation requirement. commercial customers could substantially Hybrid systems can greatly improve the save on their energy bills by incorporating a TM return-on-investment by lowering the MicroCSP system into their existing process payback period to as low as 3 years. This is heat operations. By retrofitting an industrial due to economies of scale in which adding facility with solar thermal collectors over just process heat to a one acre of land, a customer power generation could significantly reduce their systems is only natural gas bill by upwards of incrementally $300K per year and realize a more cost, but it payback of investment in as results in little as three years. substantial additional energy Air Conditioning savings. Such MicroCSPTM can also be systems would combined with absorption entail a chillers to produce air secondary loop conditioning systems that coming off of the Rooftop Solar Air-Conditioning displace electric load. Air power-generating conditioning can be designed to unit to utilize the cascade in the same solar array as either heat remaining in the working fluid. power generation or process heat, with Secondary applications could include water ample thermal heat to drive at least two heating, agricultural drying or other processes. This makes MicroCSPTM functions that require heat up to 220º F. appealing to those with more than one on- site power need. An example of such a Sopogy White Paper 5 project might involve supplementing an and that a ceiling price will be set by the cost existing 100-ton electrical air conditioning of fuel oil and distillate in the range of $7- system at a large retailer with a 100-ton 12/MMBtu. MicroCSPTM system. By providing savings on the current electricity cost, the new solar Solar thermal energy could potentially play installation could provide a simple payback in this role by directly displacing gas in as little as four years. numerous applications. The industrial sector accounts for the greatest proportion of Opportunities to displace natural gas natural gas use in the United States (32%), followed by the electric power (29%), The need to find renewable energy residential (20%), and commercial (13%) substitutes for natural gas is rapidly sectors. Opportunities to displace natural gas becoming more urgent. Natural gas accounts are particularly promising in the industrial for about one-quarter of total energy sector—which includes the agriculture and consumption in the United States and food industries, according to EIA accounting demand for this resource is expected to methods. In addition, many industrial and continue growing steadily into the commercial facilities currently use natural foreseeable future. At the same time, gas for water heating and absorption cooling however, domestic reserves are shrinking systems, which could also be done using and prices have been rising steadily. Over solar thermal energy. the last decade, the price of natural gas in the U.S. has more than doubled from about MicroCSPTM could also be used by the electric $3 per million Btu (MMBtu) or less, to the power industry to supply heat to the $6-8/MMBtu range, with much higher spikes. “bottoming” steam cycle in a combined-cycle generating plant, thus increasing the plant’s Further perspective on such forecasts is overall efficiency. provided by an analysis from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), which 1 EPRI Journal, summer 2006, pp. 25-26 Firm
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