.jpg)
|
OPEL Solar Energy Products
As part of OPEL International, the Solar Products Business Unit will focus on the development, manufacture and sales of high efficiency solar cells and concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) panels that generate electricity from sunlight and to be operated by private or public utilities, as well as commercial and industrial applications such as large commercial buildings.
Today, our economy relies more than ever on reliable, affordable supplies of electricity. The use of electricity has grown dramatically over the last 30 years and mirrors our nation's economic growth. As demand for electricity grows, new power plants that rely on a diversity of fuels are needed to ensure adequate electricity supplies in the future.
According to the latest data from the Energy Information Administration, 281 gigawatts of new generating capacity will be needed by 2025 to meet the growing demand for electricity
Solar photovoltaic cells are a viable renewable energy alternative. However, traditional flat plate silicon panels are facing a significant supply shortage of silicon that is anticipated to last until, at least, the year 2008.
Concentrator photovoltaic systems are the next generation of solar technology that will be deployed in the coming years since they provide a practical solution to the silicon cost and supply shortage by focusing sunlight onto much smaller photovoltaic receivers and reducing the amount of active material required, thus reducing costs. Recent technological advances in high-efficiency receivers based on triple-junction cells based on GaAs enable CPV systems to require only 0.1% of the active material of flat-panel silicon PV.
OPEL Inc., in collaboration with the National Research Council, has developed a simple yet highly efficient solar concentrating panel that takes advantage of the high conversion efficiency of GaAs cells originally developed for space applications. OPEL is closely working with established large solar system companies to integrate its CPV panels into their systems for application in large (multi megawatt) solar farms. OPEL is also actively engaged with independent energy producers for deploying both demonstration and operational systems in various regions in the world.
For more details on our Solar Products click on the links below: