Program:
FOCUS
Award:
$3,299,936
Location:
New Orleans, Louisiana
Status:
ALUMNI
Project Term:
08/01/2014 - 09/30/2018

Technology Description:

Tulane University and its partners are developing a hybrid solar energy system capable of capturing, storing, and dispatching solar energy. The system will collect sunlight using a dual-axis tracker with concentrator dish that focuses sunlight onto a hybrid solar energy receiver. Ultraviolet and visible light is collected in very high efficiency solar cells with approximately half of this part of the spectrum converted to electricity. The infrared part of the spectrum passes through the cells and is captured by a thermal receiver that converts this part of the spectrum into heat with nearly 95% efficiency. The heat is captured by a fluid that is heated to a temperature between 100 - 590°C. This heat energy can be immediately for a variety of commercial and industrial applications that require thermal energy or the heat may be stored in a small-scale thermal energy storage bank that stores energy for conversion to electricity by a heat engine when needed most. Tulane University’s system will enable efficient use of the full solar spectrum while storing a large component of sunlight as heat for industrial processes or conversion into electricity at any time of day.

Potential Impact:

If successful, Tulane’s hybrid solar energy system will combine the best attributes of both PV and CSP systems, which would allow efficient conversion of the full solar spectrum and store solar energy for use at any time of day as heat or electricity.

Security:

Developing new systems that generate both heat and electricity at the same time could provide clean, domestically-sourced solar power at costs comparable to traditional sources, such as burning natural gas, whether or not the sun is shining.

Environment:

Replacing energy systems powered by fossil fuels would provide an immediate decrease in greenhouse gas emissions from both electricity and thermal energy generation.

Economy:

Cost-effective, dispatchable solar energy alternatives would stabilize electricity rates for consumers as the penetration of renewable energy increases in the coming years.

Contact

ARPA-E Program Director:
Dr. Rachel Slaybaugh
Project Contact:
Dr. Matthew Escarra
Press and General Inquiries Email:
ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov
Project Contact Email:
escarra@tulane.edu

Partners

San Diego State University
University of San Diego
Otherlab, Inc.
Spectrolab

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Release Date:
07/16/2013