POWERDISH & CPV TESTED

SDG&E Unveils New Solar Power Demonstration Projects; Projects Concentrate Solar Heat/Light to Boost Power Efficiency
June 2, 2010 (Marketwire via MarketWatch)

"San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)…[placed] two new solar power demonstration installations that concentrate the light and heat from the sun to generate power in two distinctively different ways.

"…The PowerDish(TM), built by Infinia of Kennewick, Wash., a mirrored disc 15 feet in diameter that concentrates and focuses the sun's energy onto a compact Stirling engine that converts that energy into electricity. Each PowerDish produces up to 3,000 watts of electricity, enough to power a typical home…"

From ThePowerDish via YouTube

"…Concentrator Photovoltaic (CPV) Technology, built by SolFocus of Mountain View, Calif., uses a reflective optical system to concentrate sunlight 650 times onto very high-efficiency photovoltaic cells up to twice as efficient as traditional silicon PV cells. The rectangular system is 24 feet wide, 18 feet tall and is capable of generating 8,400 watts, enough to power three homes…

"The total cost for both projects is $80,000 and will be funded by SDG&E's research and development group…"

From WMSMedia via YouTube

"The demonstrations are expected to continue for 12 to 18 months, after which SDG&E will share the results with the manufacturers.

"…[The projects support] SDG&E's plan to develop green technologies, meet its renewable energy goals and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. The company has voluntarily agreed to obtain 33 percent of its electricity portfolio from renewables by 2020…"