What is unique about our system is that we will be able to produce energy at around $0.08 per kilowatt/hour without a government subsidy, which is comparable to the cost of electricity from fossil fuel, ZenithSolar chief executive officer Roy Segev said.
CPV technology has been present for two decades, Segev continued, but ZenithSolar’s proprietary optical and manufacturing systems give it a competitive edge. ZenithSolar installations comprises mostly of plastic, glass and steel, which drive down costs, as does its unique manufacturing process, which relies on molds to mass produce plastic backing for the mirrors.
Efficiency rates of over 41% have been obtained under laboratory conditions. ZenithSolar has attained 21% in the field. Regular photovoltaic (PV) panels have an efficiency of 12-15%. ZenithSolar’s overall system efficiency, when thermal energy is factored in is 70%, Segev said, adding that the firm expects to increase this to 75%.
Theoretically, one Z10 could be erected on a private home to supply electricity and hot water. In larger applications, such as that installed at Kvutzat Yavne, two Z10s are erected side by side (and called the Z20). The modular units take up relatively little land, making CPV more real estate friendly than its PV cousin. Modularity also permits for varying generating needs to be met.
The idea behind the technology was developed by ZenithSolar’s research and development department in close cooperation with teams of researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Germany’s Fraunhofer ISE Research Institute.
At Kvutzat Yavne, the ZenithSolar system will provide an entire neighborhood with all of its hot water and electricity needs, obviating an annual requirement for 40,000 liters of fuel oil.
