Concentrated Solar Power Panels

CSP Panel Made by SolFocus

Doubtful about the efficiency of solar panels?  On the other environmental blogs for which I write, I often get comments questioning the cost-benefit of installing solar panels.

These questions may soon go by the wayside!  Consumers may wish to purchase concentrated solar power panels (CSP) instead. The product, made by SolFocus, concentrates 500 times the energy of the sun onto a small high efficiency solar cell with the use of two mirrors.  The concentrated solar power panels are said to be 25% efficient.  This is more than double the average 12% efficiency rate of ordinary solar panels.

As explained on the SolFocus website:

“By concentrating sunlight using innovative optics onto a small area of high-efficiency solar cell material, SolFocus systems dramatically reduce the amount of expensive and often supply-constrained solar material used in the system. The multi-junction solar cells incorporated into the system provide the highest levels of efficiency in converting light to electricity.”

SolFocus CSP Technology

Another unique feature of the concentrated solar power panels is the tracking technology.  The advanced tracking system used by SolFocus continuously aligns the solar array with direct sunlight throughout the day.  In other words direct light will be shining on the concentrated solar power panels from sunrise to sunset!  This allows for energy generation matched to peak demand periods.

As they say on the info-mercial shows… But wait – there’s more!  The SolFocus concentrated solar power panels are resistant to high temperature degradation normally affecting silicon PV solar cells.  This is because the concentrated solar power panels are made primarily of glass and aluminum, which are not only less expensive, but which have proven field durability.

So, with concentrated solar power panels you get better efficiency, less cost and more direct light shining on the panels all day long.  The bottom line of high output and low cost should soon make converting to solar power from fossil fuels a “no-brainer.”  I’m convinced!  I would love to install concentrated solar power panels on my house.  Would you?

Tags: concentrated solar power panels, solar power, solfocus