Flexible Assembly Solar Technology
EERE New Project
Program Area
Photovoltaic
Awardee Details
Awardee
BrightSource Energy
State
California
Funding
DOE Amount
$4,900,000
BrightSource Energy is designing and deploying an automated collector-assembly platform. The researchers are also developing a more efficient installation process that has the potential to drastically reduce construction time and cost for utility-scale CSP facilities.
BrightSource's research objective is to design, build, and demonstrate a Flexible Assembly Solar Technology (FAST) system that can substantially reduce the cost and time associated with solar-field construction. FAST accelerates the heliostat assembly and field installation processes by combining elements of both functions on a single platform with direct access to the solar collector field.
Objectives
- Preliminary, partial assembly of the mirror units at a centralized offsite facility capable of supplying multiple CSP projects
- An automated, transportable FAST platform for assembly completion
- Delivery of the fully completed assemblies into the solar field for final installation.