Parallax

Concentrating Solar Energy Solutions

Energy Integration Group, Inc. is developing large scale, PPA-based solar projects with commercial, government and utility partners. The group has numerous sites under various stages of development. Our primary goal is to ultimately develop the most effective projects possible to generate electricity over the long-term.

EIG is an experienced power project developer and has built strategic partnerships with industry leaders in solar power – focused on harnessing the sun’s power for utility scale energy projects, using Concentrating Solar Power (CSP). With CSP's relatively low cost and ability to deliver power during the peak demand, it is a practical solution for utility scale solar power.

The Parabolic Solar Trough is a proven technology for utility scale solar power projects. The parabolic trough follows the sun around a single, rotational axis. Sunlight is reflected from parabolic shaped mirrors and is concentrated many times onto the receiver tube at the focal point of the parabola. Synthetic heat transfer oil is pumped through a receiver tube and is heated to approximately 400 C°. The oil transports the heat from the solar field to the power block where the energy is converted to high-pressure steam which is then converted into energy, using a conventional steam turbine.

Individual parabolic trough collector modules are attached together to form a "collector" that can be from 100 to 150 m long, the collectors are then configured together to form a collector row. These projects include many parallel collector rows covering large rectangular areas of land. An ideal setting for a 100MW concentrating solar project requires a section of land (640 acres), a level site, a high level of direct normal insolation (DNI), access to water for cooling and access to transmission. Many potential project sites have easy access to power lines, but the project team will assist you in evaluating which interconnection options the area offers and what the transmission capability on those lines are. In some cases, the project will pay for upgrades to the existing transmission facilities in the area. In general, transmission lines have to be within a distance of less than 3-5 miles.