SolFocus Sustainability Overview
Sustainability
An Environmentally Balanced Harvest of the Sun
While the world's energy demand increases at an unparalleled rate, the need to meet that demand with cleaner sources of energy is growing even faster. Faced with a changing climate and diminishing natural resources, the proper stewardship of our planet now requires that we alter our energy mix, stepping away from the carbon-based energy sources that currently dominate our global energy supply. We must move to energy sources which have less impact on the environment, optimally utilize our natural resources, and take full advantage of a more abundant and sustainable energy supply – the sun.
Climate Stability
Stabilizing our global climate is paramount. Overconsumption of limited water supply and rapidly increasing greenhouse gas emissions, the key contributors to devastating climate change, are largely the result of continued reliance on traditional fossil fuel sources and generation technologies for energy. Choosing advanced technology solutions that do not exacerbate this process is critical for climate stability.
Low Lifecycle Greenhouse Gas Intensity
Utilizing solar technologies is key in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In comparing solar energy sources, SolFocus CPV has the lowest GHG intensity from manufacturing through end-of-life. Energy consumption in the production of SolFocus CPV systems is the lowest of all solar technologies.
No Water Consumption
Globally, nearly half of water withdrawals are by electricity producers for cooling power plants. SolFocus CPV systems do not consume water in the electricity generation process because they are passively cooled; water is only used for panel cleaning and maintenance.
Environmental Sustainability
Clean water, air, and land are essential – the link between a healthy global environment and economic success is clear. Environmental stewardship is a value that SolFocus holds in high regard. SolFocus is committed to providing the world with a viable solution for clean energy throughout its product's lifecycle.
High Recyclability and Best Cradle to Cradle Footprint
SolFocus CPV systems use a fraction of the active PV material compared to traditional solar panels. The majority of the system is comprised of aluminum, glass, and steel – all materials which can be easily recycled at the end of the product's useful life.
Short Energy Payback
SolFocus CPV systems utilize less energy in the manufacturing of solar panels compared to other PV solar technologies, thus shortening the energy payback time.
Less Disruption of the Land and Local Ecosystem
SolFocus systems sit on trackers high off of the ground and move throughout the day casting less of a permanent shadow to disrupt the ecosystem around the installation and wildlife migratory patterns in the installation vicinity. The high conversion efficiency of the SolFocus systems (25+%) compared to other technologies (7-19%), result in an optimization of energy yield relevant to land footprint. The flat aperture of the panels do not collect and redirect rainwater to alter dessert flood patterns that impact land erosion.
Economic Opportunities
During this time of economic challenge, the solar industry is engaged in driving economic recovery. Most notably are the jobs created and the localized economic impact resulting from the installation and operation of distributed generation and utility scale solar technologies. SolFocus CPV solar systems are a step beyond traditional solar energy systems and utilize a broad range of skills during the installation and operation phases. CPV energy technology is advancing the solar industry and energy generation capabilities for a more secure, greener economy.
1 MW SolFocus CPV installation creates economic opportunity:
- 25-30 near-term installation & logistics jobs
- 1-3 long term operation and maintenance jobs
- Local reinvestment of $1.5-$2.3 million, which can be about $19 per capita in rural communities
Economic Impact Through Green Technology Advancement
In November 2007, SolFocus was awarded a $2.2 million subcontract, a grant administered by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) under the PV Incubator Program. The aim of the program was to improve product efficiency and scale up production capabilities.
| Metric | PRE-AWARD NOV. 2007 |
POST-AWARD JUN. 2009 |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency | 17% | 25+% |
| Jobs | 67 | 243 |
| Product Deployed | 30 kW | 560 kW (4 countries) |
| MW Under Contract | None | 27 MW |
| Production Capacity | None | 50 MW 2009 100 MW by mid-2010 |
| Equity Capital Raised | $32 million | $173 million |
| Certifications | None | IEC 62108 Certified to UL+CE Standards CEC Listed |
