Concentrating Thermo-Solar
Concentrating thermo-solar plants are composed of a large field of mirror, focusing sunlight onto a medium which conducts a fluid (usually water). The fluids temperature rises, steam is released, moving a turbine which generate electricity. Concentrating solar projects are huge in size, usually located in deserts, are very efficient (close to 50% of the suns energy is converted to electricity, as opposed to 10-15% of P.V. panels). Due to their size, these projects require heavy funding, and are strongly influenced by the credit markets and incentive programs. Several companies operating in the concentrating thermo-solar segment are on their way to find the holy grail of the solar industry and efficient way to store solar energy (which is not available 24/7, a major drawback). Solar energy storage technology is a true gamechanger, and we will keep you up to date on where this technology is heading.
Companies: BrightSource (privately held), Solel (acquired by Siemens (SI 134.94 2.44%))
Companies Profiled Sharp Solar Isofoton Schott Sanyo Q-Cells SolarWorld Kyocera SunPower BP Solar Suntech First Solar Yingli Green Energy AES PrimeStar Solar Akuo Energy Q-Cells AG Colorado Instruments /Sanyo SolarWorld SatCon Concentrix Signet Solar Cypress Semiconductor /Siemens Sunpower Solaire Direct Dyesol Limited Solarfun Power Evergreen Solar Holdings Co, Ltd. Flisom Solar Integrated GE SolarWorld AG Global Solar Energy Solartech Hitachi America Ltd. Solon Hoku Scientific Spectra Watt / Intel Isofoton Tenesol
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