Harvest of the Sun: A cost effective solar thermal technology to simultaneously provide affordable energy and generate mass employment in developing Sun‐belt regions

Abstract

Here we report a cost effective solar harvestor based on parabolic trough collector (PTC) technology with three remarkable characteristics. First, unlike the expensive (~USD 170/m2‐aperture) state‐of‐the‐art PTCs which use large curved reflectors, this reflector is composed of a plurality of long rectangular mirrored strips of glass placed on laser‐cut parabolic ribs to yield an accurate reflecting shape giving a concentration ratio of 38 (comparable to the state‐of‐the‐art). Second, the entire assembly is on bolts. It can be delivered in boxes, and can easily be erected on desired site: in stark contrast to state‐of‐the art PTCs, which need to be fabricated in a specially equipped workshop and installed using cranes. Third, by incorporating several innovations guided by comprehensive optimization using finite element analysis and ray tracing, the cost of the system has been brought below USD 82/m2‐aperture (as per the recommendation of NAE). Taken together, this solution promises more cost‐effective base load electricity than Photovoltaics, hence goes a long way toward meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goal of Affordable Energy (SDG‐7). Further, it can be fabricated using industrial equipment that is readily available in the developing regions of the Sun‐belt and installed using unskilled labor. Hence, it can form the core of a massive, decentralized, micro‐CSP industry that can provide dignified employment to large numbers of people in developing regions (SDG‐8). We have termed this technology Harvest of the Sun.