Sopogy inaugurates world’s first MicroCSP solar thermal plant

KONA, USA: Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii – Sopogy, Inc. inaugurated the world’s first MicroCSP Solar Thermal Plant today at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii.

The 2 Megawatt thermal energy project which spans across 3.8 acres in the hot Kona desert utilizes 1,000 Sopogy proprietary MicroCSP solar panels. Through the use of mirrors and optics and an integrated sun tracker, these panels achieve higher efficiencies than conventional solar panels.

The system also uses a unique thermal energy storage buffer that allows energy to be produced during cloudy periods and to shift energy produced from the day to evening periods.

The project name: “Holaniku at Keahole Point” comes from the Hawaiian term for a location that has everything required for self-sufficiency.

“MicroCSP is an achievement in rugged, modular and cost effective solar thermal technology,” said Darren T. Kimura, President and CEO of Sopogy, Inc. “The completion and demonstration of this 2 megawatt solar thermal project is an important first step in bringing the solution to the world.”

With the completion of Holaniku, Sopogy now has 8 solar thermal energy facilities operating around the world. Sopogy’s MicroCSP technologies are being used in such diverse applications including process heat, solar air conditioning, rooftop deployment and now power generation.

With the initialization of the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative, the state has become a magnet for renewable energy project development. Sopogy and its local solar project development partner Keahole Solar Power have a goal to bring 30 megawatts of MicroCSP power to the state by 2015.