Sungri Claims 5-7 cents per kWh for CSP Solar Technology

Using SUNRGI's propriety technology it is possible to produce large amounts of electricity from solar radiation at a wholesale price of US $0.05 / kWh is the lead headline on SUNGRI's website. The system is called Xtreme Concentrated Photovoltaics ™ or XCPV™.

XCPV efficiently concentrates sunlight so than it is more that 1,600 times brighter than the sun. This concentrated sunlight is focused onto triple-junction solar cells photovoltaic (PV) solar cells that convert more than 37% of the sunlight directly into electricity. The technology will enable power companies, businesses, and residents to produce electricity from solar energy at a lower cost than ever before was announced recently by SUNRGI at the National Energy Marketers Association's 11th Annual Global Energy Forum. 

"Solar Power at 5 cents per kWh would be a world-changing breakthrough. It would make solar generation of electricity as affordable as generation from coal, natural gas or other non-renewable sources, without requiring a subsidy"

-- Craig Goodman, president, National Energy Marketers Association

"In a little more than a year we were able to develop and successfully test XCPV. We expect the SUNRGI system to become available for both on and off-grid power applications, worldwide, in twelve to fifteen months"

-- Robert S (Bob) Block, co-founder and SUNRGI principal.

What differentiates SUNRGI's XCPV system from other solar energy systems includes:

• Extreme Photovoltaics Concentration
• a propriety, integrated low profile technology for concentrating sunlight
• a propriety technology and methodology for cooling solar cells, allowing the cells have a longer useful life
• A dual axis tracking system that captures 175% more energy than a fixed system
• a low cost, modular system, module shown below, optimized for mass production and enables a power station to be distributed over a number of sites
• a system with less land area or "roof top" requirements than typical solar energy systems, 16X less land than thin film
• a technology roadmap for continuous improvement, the design is upgradeable, allowing it to take advantage of future advances in PV technology
• low-cost field installation
• a custom-designed system for easy operation and maintenance
• SUNRGI’s system costs significantly less per installed Watt than traditional PV technology

The system tracks the sun as it moves across the sky from sunrise to sunset. The performance difference between tracking systems and fixed systems is significant. In a day, SUNRGI's tracking system will capture and convert 175% more sunlight than a fixed system at the same advertised peak power rating.

XCPV prototypes have been built and successfully tested under both laboratory and field (outdoor) conditions.

SUNRGI XCPV technology does not depend upon silicon, and therefore is not affected by the silicon shortage.

I believe the claim for 5 cent electricity (wholesale price) is a first in the solar industry. SUNRGI has developed a low cost module that they claim is "optimized for mass production", has high efficiency and is space saving. They also are projecting that it will be available in 12 to 15 months.  That would be quite an achievement for a company that apparently has not produced a commercial prototype and in a document titled Executive Summary dated April 30, 2008 states that "a best-to-date manufacturability, small-scale modular design has been envisioned and calculated. Concept drawings have been completed" and that "Over the near term SUNRGI plans to continue its research and development activities. In particular, the company is creating a demonstrable performance simulation of its concentrated solar energy system that can be showcased to its customers."  I wish them the best, as such a product would be welcomed.

Comments

[disdaniel]

Crimminy...all that metal (in the heat sink photo) looks like it will cost more than $0.05/kwh. (Do they really need that much?)

As for the idea of concentrating sunlight onto a small space, it can be done and has been done before. I hope they can do it better, but I'm a little worried this PR will build unrealistic expectations. Wildly overoptimistic expectations or shoddy products can seriously damage a industry. If these guys can't even calculate how much extra sunlight 2 axis tracking provides, it doesn't bode well for their other claims.

[Miguel Salazar]

Great post.

Personally, I'm betting big in the solar sector. I believe it will be huge in the future, with rising oil prices. I'm currently holding ESLR, JASO, SOLF and WFR, and considering entering in either ASTI or DSTI.

Stay safe, stops are in, emotions are out!

[Thomas Marihart]

From 300-500 suns to north of 1100?

Heat kills semiconductors, so thermal management is key.

I didn't see any reference to MTBF.
Without this data the rest is useless.

When I see MTBF data and a warranty, then I'll get interested in this technology.

[ELMO the Electric Bikes -n- Scooters Guy]

This is just another reason why we need to move as quickly as possible, (much as in the same manner as Kennedy's challenge to get a man on the moon) to alternative energy vehicles.

I know, I know, we wil have to build more electrical plants. B.S!!!

I know of little old engineers that power their cars on solar energy right out of their homes. Don't tell me we aren't smart enough!!!

[Rick L.]

I can't wait for this, it sounds really great, getting excited about this. Great post. Thanks a bunch, Rick L.

[Cyril R.]

Adequately tracking a >1000x concentrator is difficult to do at low cost. Their setup shows single axis tracking, with some kind of internal or secondary concentrator, those tend to be less accurate. Count me a sceptic as well.

Even if they are for real, they'd have to have an installed cost of no more than 2 dollars per Watt even in the best locations. The CoolEarthSolar design looks more promising overall, and they're further along comercially. SolFocus indeed has an elegant product, especially the gen2 concentrators. But their installed cost so far is disappointing at more than 10 dollars per Watt. Supposedly, the cost would go down a lot for hundred of MWe plants.

[Bob Wallace]

Single axis horizontal tracking within the individual unit should be fine as long as there is some way to adjust the 'rack' for day to day vertical changes.

Individual units can fine tune with just enough logic to titrate for maximum output.

The overall system should be able to determine the maximum output from all units and from that create a standard which the other units could use to determine how much they are under performing and adjust or report for maintenance.

--

That said, the new film/coating for PV solar that allows close to 100% of light striking the front surface to be conducted in (rather than reflected off)....

Supposedly this product will eliminate the need to track panels. Should work as well for concentrating lenses?

[Bob Wallace]

"a new antireflective coating that boosts the amount of sunlight captured by solar panels and allows those panels to absorb the entire solar spectrum from nearly any angle"

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081103130924.htm

[Cyril R.]

Single axis horizontal tracking within the individual unit should be fine as long as there is some way to adjust the 'rack' for day to day vertical changes.

For lower concentrations, easily. But not for higher concentration as sungri claims to work with. The angle of acceptance becomes so small that you absolutely have to have constant high accuracy tracking. This is possible, just not at the cost claimed. I'm not convinced that the cost reduction potential for high accuracy tracking systems is huge, so I'll remain very sceptical at least until they've got some field proof of economics. Judging by the available data, Sungri is still very early in it's development.

[Cyril R.]

I'm not sure why absorbing the entire wavelenght spectrum is all that useful. Far infrared is pretty much useless, the energy is too low for the photovoltaic effect. Infrared will probably just heat up your panel, slightly reducing output.

In the past, up-conversion and down-conversion layers have been tried but had only marginal effect on efficiency. Perhaps if the panel absorbs all the wavelengths more effectively, up- and down-conversion could be more effective?

[Cyril R.]

As for game-changers, IMHO the holy grail is something like this

[Kit P]

“As for game-changers, IMHO the holy grail is something like this”

“so I'll remain very sceptical at least until they've got some field proof of economics.”

[Cyril R.]

Exactly Kit. But you're sceptical about anything that isn't conventional and vested interests. Do not confuse fact based scepticism with unreasonable structural bias. Some problems are more likely to be overcome than others. That is not to say infrared nano-antennas aren't extremely risky.

We need ambitious research projects to complement accelerated buildout of proven technologies. Can't depend on it, but not a lot of $ are needed for these research projects and the payoff is potentially huge. Private investors and companies often do not fund such promising research when there is little chance of short term returns. The government however has the long term energy future of the country to consider.

At the very least, they are interesting science projects.

[portable solar battery charger]

Interesting solution... I found an awesome portable device that anyone can use when travelling.
Solio charger is a compact portable device, which will power most cellular, smart, pda and mp3 devices on the fly. Some models will even store energy for use at night.

[wholesale dropshippers sources]

this is so good to see. i just love the new technology.

[Dennis]

Before you pop your cork and invest in this company, read this:

http://www.marylandgreenpower.com/greenpower/2008/05/21/22/

[wholesale dropshippers sources vendors]

i am so glad to hear this. keep up the good work.

[SolarForum24.de]

really good

[penis enlargement]

"In a little more than a year we were able to develop and successfully test XCPV. We expect the SUNRGI system to become available for both on and off-grid power applications, worldwide, in twelve to fifteen months"

Hope it will be as they say.

[Yanto]

Sounds like the snake oil salesmen are at it again.

[Solar Power Technology]

Five cents per kw sounds unbelievable. I hope this comes true as many people will benefit from it.

[4inkjets Coupon Code]

Tempting blog! Thanks for giving out this astonishing news. You have done fastidious assessment. It can be done without obscurity.

[Automatic soap dispenser]

A fine example of how solar will soon take over. This efficiency has been demostrated and tested by NREL at only 10 suns.

Collecting heat and electricity from the same solar system is called solar cogeneration. It has already been done by the Colorado team in the solar challenge in DC.

[Burr coffee grinders]

Single axis horizontal tracking within the individual unit should be fine as long as there is some way to adjust the 'rack' for day to day vertical changes.

Individual units can fine tune with just enough logic to titrate for maximum output.

The overall system should be able to determine the maximum output from all units and from that create a standard which the other units could use to determine how much they are under performing and adjust or report for maintenance.

[Business Process Analysis Training]

I love your thoughts on all of the gas tax relief talk on the presidential trail......

[Energy writers]

It is using for photovoltaic solar panels, including solar cells, lighting and chargers. To know more..http://energywriters.blogspot.com/.

[Anbu]

Good work...Nice presentation..

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