Nanogen's Solar Power Plant Fits in a Box

Nanogen Power Systems, LLC has developed a technology which distills large-scale concentrating solar power (CSP) systems so they can fit into a steel cargo container.

CSP technology uses mirrors to focus the sun's rays on a single point to heat liquid which then spins a turbine to create electricity. Traditionally this technology has been employed on large pieces of land and involves many large glass parabolic solar troughs that mechanically track the sun. Nanogen, with the release of its NanoCSP line of modular and portable solar power plants, has made CSP technology an option for remote, small applications.

The NanoCSP system uses patented durable parabolic troughs that are made from molded plastic and do not require mechanical tilting to capture the sun's rays. Using a thermal energy storage tank, the portable solar plant can store enough heated fluid to generate power for up to 16 hours after the sun has set. 

Each unit can produce anywhere from 250-kW to 10-MW of power. Originally designed for disaster relief, the entire system fits in a cargo container that can be shipped via sea, barge, truck or rail to locations worldwide and can be up and running within 48 hours.

Read the full story at Business Wire: NANOGEN Power Systems Announces the NanoCSP™ Portable Solar Power Plant

Image Credit: UNC - CFC - USFK via Flickr