Recovery Act - Design and Demonstration of a Solar Array for a Modular Distributed Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) System

Solar power systems are recognized to have great potential to supply vast amounts of clean renewable energy. Expansion of domestic solar power generation can both increase national security by reducing US dependence on foreign energy sources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions for worldwide benefit. Narrowing the cost gap between relatively inexpensive fossil-fuel energy sources and solar power generation is necessary for increased application of this renewable resource. A modular-production based CSP system for distributed power generation could be developed and built with significantly lower costs, and therefore great advantage over present systems. The distributed system locates power generation at the point of demand, which has a number of inherent advantages; most significantly waste heat from the power generation cycle may be used for producing hot water and heating/cooling room air. The objective of this project is to develop and demonstrate an integral component of this modular system