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Xtreme concentrated photovoltaics™ (XCPV)

SUNRGI alleges that their propriety technology makes it possible to produce large amounts of electricity from solar radiation at a whole sale price of US $0.05 / kWh.

With a 2000x magnification, the system is called Xtreme Concentrated Photovoltaics™ or XPV™, concentrating sunlight onto photovoltaic (PV) solar cells that convert more than 37% of the sunlight directly into electricity. The system also includes a method of pulling the heat away from the area of focus to prevent the PV cells from burning up.

The final aspect that allows for an inexpensive energy price is low cost mass production and field installation.

They expect to begin production of a commercial product by mid-2009.

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Official Website

• http://www.sunrgi.com/
  • Technology (http://www.sunrgi.com/technology.html) - several pages; follow the arrows.
  • FAQ (http://www.sunrgi.com/faq.html)
  • About Us (http://www.sunrgi.com/about-us.html)
  • News (http://www.sunrgi.com/media.html) - several pages; follow the arrows.
  • Press Kit / Downloads (http://www.sunrgi.com/presskit.html)

How it Works

SUNRGI's proprietary (patents pending) COOLMOVE ™ heat transport technology swiftly prevents this undesirable heat buildup to that the PV solar cells are actually kept cooler than their nominal operating temperature, thus extending their useful life. [1] (http://www.sunrgi.com/sungri-cool-move.html)

A dual tracking system enables 175% more sunlight to be gathered during a day. [2] (http://www.sunrgi.com/peak-power-output-comparison.html) [3] (http://www.suntrack.es/imagenes/ventajas.jpg)

Optimizing solar concentration, heat removal, component reduction and highly accurate solar tracking will make it possible, in about a year, for SUNRGI technology to produce large amounts of electricity from sunlight at a wholesale cost of 5 cents per kWh. [4] (http://www.sunrgi.com/energy-output-comparisons.html)

The real estate needed for energy generation with the SUNRGI system will be 16 times less than thin film solar technologies. [Comment: Since thin film is now at 19% efficiency, the real estate would be half that of thin film, not 1/16.]

Videos/Photos

(43 seconds)

• SUNRGI Graphic Pyramid (YouTube (http://youtube.com/watch?v=AANlzEPo2TQ); April 26, 2008)

Costs

Alleges 5 cents/kw-h, which is in the range of being competitive with fossil fuel power. This is large-scale pricing. Residential applications will not be this cheap yet.

Initially, SUNRGI will target large institutional and corporate customers, including utility companies, government institutions, systems integrators and those companies and projects which have large-scale, renewable power requirements.

Advantages

http://www.sunrgi.com/technology.html

• On and Off-Grid Distribution - Other solar technologies, solar thermal in particular, need to be implemented as part of large power stations. SUNRGI’s system however, can be deployed in small configurations allowing lower and more variable entry points into the solar market. SUNRGI can provide discreet, off-grid “power plants” that can be sited in any sun-suitable location.

• Modularity - SUNRGI’s modular design modular enables a power station to be distributed over a number of sites. A large power station can be divided into a number of sub-stations which makes for easier access to suitable land.

• Upgradeability - Unlike traditional PV technology, SUNRGI’s design is upgradeable, allowing it to take advantage of future advances in PV technology.

• Concentrated - Energy Since the sunlight is concentrated, fewer PV cells are needed thereby reducing the cost-per-watt of generated electricity. Also, it is more efficient format from which to extract heat.

• Longevity - With SUNRGI’s proprietary heat removal technology the PV cells have a longer useful life.

• Economy - SUNRGI’s system costs significantly less per installed Watt than traditional PV technology. Expected advances in technology, maturity and volume production will further increase this cost advantage.

• Not Silicon-Dependent - SUNRGI XCPV technology does not depend upon silicon, and therefore is not affected by this shortage.

Independent Testing

XCPV prototypes have been built and successfully tested under both laboratory and field (outdoor) conditions.

Patents

Pending

Profiles

Company: SUNRGI LLC

SUNRGI is in the business of designing and developing solar energy systems. It was formed by five, experienced, entrepreneurial, inventive individuals with the goal of creating a renewable energy source that would be available at fossil fuel prices. Its work has led to the development of an entirely new solar energy category: Xtreme Concentrated Photovoltaics™ or XCPV™. SUNRGI maintains offices in Reno, Silicon Valley and Los Angeles. [5] (http://www.sunrgi.com/about-us.html)

Coverage

In the News

• Google News > Sunrgi (http://news.google.com/news?q=sunrgi)

• Focusing on Solar's Cost (http://www.technologyreview.com/Biztech/20737/?nlid=1055&a=f) - Sunrgi claims that its concentrated photovoltaic system outshines the competition. (MIT Technology Review; May 07, 2008)

• Sunrgi Exits Stealth, Promises to Be as Cheap as Coal (http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/1596/83/) - Grid parity...it's what we're all hoping for. That magical moment when solar power (or other renewables for that matter) become available at the cost of current power sources. (Ecogeek; Apr. 30, 2008)

• Concentrated Solar Power > Start-up: Affordable solar power possible in a year (http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/environment/2008-04-28-solar-power-sunrgi_N.htm) - SUNRGI's (http://www.sunrgi.com/) "concentrated photovoltaic" system, to be produced by mid-2009, installed at 7 cents per kilowatt hour, relies on lenses to magnify sunlight 2,000 times, letting it produce as much electricity as standard panels with a far smaller system. (USA Today; April 28, 2008)
  

Comments

See Discussion page

Contact

http://www.sunrgi.com/contact-us.html

SUNRGI
6430 Sunset Boulevard, Suite 500
Hollywood, CA 90028
Telephone: (323) 469-3210; Fax: (323) 957-0482

email: Info@sunrgi.com (mailto:Info@sunrgi.com?subject=SUNRGI_featured_at_PESWiki.com)

See also

• Directory:Concentrated Solar Power
• Directory:Solar

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