Morgan Solar Announces Low Cost, High Efficiency Solar Power System
(Toronto, Canada) Morgan Solar Inc., a Toronto based solar energy start-up specializing in concentrating solar optics, has developed a new type of high concentrated photovoltaic system called the Sun Simba HCPV. By reducing the required materials and complexity of the system, Morgan Solar will deliver a highly efficient HCPV system mounted on a dual axis tracker, at a significantly lower cost per watt than current solar panels. The system is designed for solar farm applications, where dual axis tracking allows for very high concentration factors and much higher power output per tracker. Future designs can also be adapted to smaller roof-top tracking applications. The Sun Simba HCPV boasts many advantages over other systems, including significant reductions in wind loading leading to higher system uptime, effective passive heat shedding and a low environmental footprint.
Over the past year and a half, Morgan Solar has developed and tested a completely new concept in optical concentrating technology called the Light-guide Solar Optic (LSO) which forms the basis of the Sun Simba HCPV system. The LSO is based on total internal reflection, the fundamental principle behind fibre optics. The LSO is a flat 5mm thick (3/16th of an inch) piece of moulded optical material that captures and internally redirects sunlight, concentrating it at small points at the edge of the optic. This process is highly efficient with minimal optical losses and does not require the focal depth and the related bulky enclosures of competing CPV systems. The current version of the Sun Simba HCPV will concentrate between 500 and 1000 suns, but the current LSO design enables concentration of up to 1400 suns.
Multi-junction cells are attached directly to the edges of the LSO at the concentration points, resulting in a thin elegant panel that is completely sealed to keep out air and moisture. Rows of panels are held in place by a slim aluminum channel that also contains the electronics, and multiple channels are attached to end pieces to make a full module. The assembly process is very simple and easily automated. A Sun Simba HCPV system mounted on a tracker with an area of roughly 200 square meters (2200 square feet) will deliver approximately 50 kilowatts peak of electricity.
Depending on local wind conditions, photovoltaic systems mounted on trackers can be off-line up to 20% of the time. The design of the Sun Simba HCPV can reduce forces exerted by winds by up to 60% in high winds. By reducing the number of hours per year that the tracker arrays must be in non-productive “wind safe” mode, the Sun Simba HCPV can deliver more annual hours of production than other PV systems. Reductions in wind load and passive heat shedding in the Sun Simba HCPV system are possible because of the unique patent pending staggered row design, which allows air to flow freely between each row of a module without reducing the light collecting area exposed to the sun. This passive heat shedding keeps the multi-junction cells within operational temperatures in even the most extreme conditions.
A small demonstration prototype is being set up next month at the Earth Rangers Centre in Woodbridge, Ontario for continuous outdoor operation. This demonstration system will eventually provide up to 2.5 kW of power to the Earth Rangers Centre. To reduce prototyping costs and to accelerate time lines, the first prototype will concentrate 350 suns. Further prototypes and demonstration systems concentrating 1000 suns are planned to be online in Canada, the US and Spain in 2009. Full production ramp-up is expected for late 2009.
About Morgan Solar
Morgan Solar Inc. is a Canadian start up that is self-funded and has been operating since June of 2007. Morgan Solar was founded by John Paul Morgan, the inventor of this new technology and the lead development engineer. Eric Morgan, the co-founder and angel investor, provides executive leadership drawing from his experience as CEO of major global consulting and technology corporations. Completing the team is Nicolas Morgan, the director of business development, contributing his experience in start ups, risk management and sales. They are supported by a growing group of talented and motivated engineers.
For more information please email Nicolas Morgan at nicolas[AT]morgansolar.com, or call at 416 203 1655. More details are available at www.morgansolar.com.
