SkyFuel named CSP Technology Supplier of the Year

Parabolic trough maker SkyFuel was honored as Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) Technology Supplier of the Year at CSP Today USA Summit in Las Vegas in early July 2011. The award recognizes SkyFuel's successful attention to cost reduction and benefit to local supply industries, and validates SkyFuel's commercial approach which navigates the fine line between cutting edge innovation and proven, bankable technology. A select panel of industry experts chose SkyFuel over finalists Siemens and Schott.

Market pressures to lower costs and stimulate job creation are forcing CSP technology companies to innovate. SkyFuel leads the way in this regard, using ReflecTech® Mirror Film as the cost reduction catalyst for a series of design improvements that make the SkyTrough® not just less costly than all other parabolic troughs, but also more empowering to the local economy of the project region.

Monolithic ReflecTech® Mirror Film panels, used in place of glass mirror facets, make the SkyTrough® less costly because they are lighter and simpler. The larger, lighter mirrors result in a lighter concentrator, lower cost of shipping, and easier installation. The highly reflective panels slide into precision guide tracks that increase optical accuracy and eliminate the need for field adjustment.

When SkyTrough® is chosen as the project technology, the local economy gets a big boost. 60% of SkyTrough® components can be supplied by standard aluminum and steel manufacturers in any country. The lamination equipment to make the large, single piece mirrors can be set up on or near the project site, and operated by local labor.

"SkyFuel's objective has always been to bring to the CSP market a low cost, high performance parabolic trough solar collector that can be easily deployed around the world," remarked Kelly Beninga, SkyFuel's Chief Commercial Officer. "We are honored to be chosen CSP Technology Supplier of the Year by the industry, in recognition of our achievement."