Scalable concentrated solar-thermal system to increase efficiency and utilize on-farm renewable energy sources (COVID-19 Rapid Response)

PROJECT SUMMARYSBIR Phase IISunCatch LtdTitle: Scalable concentrated solar-thermal system to increase efficiency and utilize on-farmrenewable energy sources (COVID-19 Rapid Response)PI: Sergey KhlopThe Agricultural Industry is an essential economic sector where sustainability plays animportant role in the productivity and profitability of the farms. SunCatch proposes furtherdevelopment of the Concentrated Solar-Thermal technology for small and mid-size farms thatcan benefit them by providing thermal energy for various agricultural applications. ThermalEnergy Storage (TES) will secure continuous operation and weather independence. Scalabilityand modular design will allow easy customization to suit each customer's needs better.Our goal is to finalize the development of our proposed technology test it and make the productready-to-market by the conclusion of the Phase II project.During Phase II SunCatch will develop a fully operational full-scale prototype of our Solar- Thermal System paired with TES check its ability to work at a larger scale and test it in thevarious modes and scenarios. Most suitable salt hydrates will be researched to assure theirsuitability for thermal energy storage (TES). To validate the solution for commercial applicationsit needs to be tested in the volume of the full-scale TES connected to the working CSTconcentrating modules. During this time we will also continue preparation for commercializationand market entry.By adopting our zero-emission technology the Agricultural industry can benefit from utilizingon-farm renewable energy sources reducing environmental impact achieving grid independencelowering day-to-day expenses increasing sustainability and decreasing the number of chemicalsused for cleaning and sanitization (COVID-19 response).We propose to extend the R&D of our technology developed under Phase I with a goal tocommercialize and bring the innovation to market as the Phase II project completes.