To help propel new forms of renewable energy, the Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office has been encouraging development of next generation concentrating solar power (CSP) systems. CSP systems offer a distinct advantage over photovoltaics by enabling energy storage through means other than batteries. CSP uses a field of mirrors (heliostats) to concentrate sunlight … Continue reading Next-Generation Concentrated Solar Power Particle Receivers Enable Inexpensive Electricity Generation with Energy Storage
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Sandia Labs software paves way for innovative wind turbine design
Brandon Ennis, an offshore wind technical lead at Sandia Labs, designed a drastically new concept for offshore wind turbines. Ennis’ design, which Albuquerque-based Sandia National Laboratories filed a patent application for in 2020, allows a wind turbine’s generator to be placed on a floating platform, rather than on the top of a 500-foot tower. But … Continue reading Sandia Labs software paves way for innovative wind turbine design
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GE Working on Behind-the-Meter Projects to Support PV Solar Integration into the Grid
Projects will promote the deployment of novel solutions that enhance grid resiliency and stability with high PV Solar penetration, and support commercial and industrial (C&I) customers in reducing their utility bills and maximizing utilization of their PV assets. GE Research and GE Renewable Energy are partnering with Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) on a $1.75M U.S. … Continue reading GE Working on Behind-the-Meter Projects to Support PV Solar Integration into the Grid
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Balloons Test Environmental Safety of Advanced Solar Power Tower Tech
Researchers from Sandia National Laboratories recently used 22-foot-wide tethered balloons to collect samples of airborne dust particles to ensure the safety of an emerging solar-power technology. The study determined that the dust created by the new technology is far below hazardous levels, said Cliff Ho, the lead researcher on the project. Ho’s team just received … Continue reading Balloons Test Environmental Safety of Advanced Solar Power Tower Tech
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Albuquerque, New Mexico, Chosen for International Concentrated Solar Power Conference
Today, the U.S. Department of Energy announced that the United States will host the world’s biggest conference on concentrating solar power (CSP) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In October 2020, SolarPACES (Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems), a program of the International Energy Agency, will bring together researchers from around the world to talk about the … Continue reading Albuquerque, New Mexico, Chosen for International Concentrated Solar Power Conference
Continue readingSandia National Laboratories: 40 years of concentrated solar power research
From testing space shuttle tiles to making electricity from sunlight, the world’s first multimegawatt solar tower has contributed to energy research, space exploration, defense testing and solar energy commercialization since it was commissioned at Sandia National Laboratories in July 1978. In 1978, Sandia National Laboratories began concentrating solar power research at the newly constructed National … Continue reading Sandia National Laboratories: 40 years of concentrated solar power research
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Sandia lab starts testing of better storage tech for Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)
Testing heats up at Sandia’s Concentrated Solar Power Tower with high temperature falling particle receiver. Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories are working to lower the cost of solar energy systems and improve efficiencies in a big way, thanks to a system of small particles. This month, engineers lifted Sandia’s continuously recirculating falling particle receiver to … Continue reading Sandia lab starts testing of better storage tech for Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)
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AREVA integrates energy storage in its Concentrated Solar Power CLFR design
AREVA Solar is collaborating with Sandia National Laboratories on a new concentrated solar power (CSP) installation with thermal energy storage. The CSP storage project combines AREVA’s modular Compact Linear Fresnel Reflector (CLFR) solar design with Sandia Labs’ proven molten salt storage system. This will be the first CSP integration with Sandia Labs’ Molten Salt Test … Continue reading AREVA integrates energy storage in its Concentrated Solar Power CLFR design
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Falling particles, the future for tower concentrated solar power (CSP) plants from Sandia Labs
Measurements of reflected solar irradiance is of great importance to industry, military, and government agencies to assess potential impacts of glint and glare from growing numbers of solar power installations around the world. In addition, this measurement technique can be used to monitor and maintain system performance for concentrating solar power applications. Concentrating solar power … Continue reading Falling particles, the future for tower concentrated solar power (CSP) plants from Sandia Labs
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SWiFT commissioned to study wind farm optimization
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Sandia National Laboratories and Texas Tech University commissioned the DOE/Sandia Scaled Wind Farm Technology (SWiFT) facility today at the Reese Technology Center in Lubbock, Texas. The SWiFT is the first public facility of its kind to use multiple wind turbines to measure how wind turbines interact with one another … Continue reading SWiFT commissioned to study wind farm optimization
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Sandia National Laboratories: Improved Method to Measure Glare and Reflected Solar Irradiance
Improved Method to Measure Glare and Reflected Solar Irradiance. Sandia has developed a significantly cheaper, more efficient, and more accurate method of measuring the irradiance from solar reflections using a digital camera. Measurements of reflected solar irradiance is of great importance to industry, military, and government agencies to assess potential impacts of glint and glare … Continue reading Sandia National Laboratories: Improved Method to Measure Glare and Reflected Solar Irradiance
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Sandia Lab building solar energy test centers across US
One of the National Security Administration’s three national laboratories is building regional testing centers around the country to field-test hardware for solar companies before their multimillion-dollar solar systems are installed in buildings. The Sandia National Laboratory is building test centers in Albuquerque, Denver, Las Vegas, Orlando, Fla., and Burlington, Vt., the Albuquerque Journal reported (http://bit.ly/Y5OGyw). … Continue reading Sandia Lab building solar energy test centers across US
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Offshore use of vertical-axis wind turbines gets closer look
Basing their work on decades of wind power research and experience, Sandia engineers are creating several concept designs, running those designs through modern modeling software and narrowing those design options down to a single, most-workable design for a VAWT turbine-blade. Results aren’t in, but the early favorite for further testing is the Darrieus design. Sandia … Continue reading Offshore use of vertical-axis wind turbines gets closer look
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