PHOENIX–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Southwest Solar Technologies Inc. announced today the successful on-sun testing and proof of concept of a highly advanced solar-turbine power system being developed by the Company. The full-scale prototype test was the first operational validation of the integrated system, which uses a large parabolic solar dish with mirrors to concentrate the sun’s energy to power an air-based open cycle turbine to produce electricity.

This milestone field test was conducted in Phoenix using the Company’s 320-square-meter solar concentrating dish, the largest solar dish in North America. The dish delivered thermal energy in the form of 2000 “suns” of concentrated sunlight into its advanced high-temperature solar thermal receiver. Inside this receiver compressed air was superheated, and that superheated air was used to power a high-speed turbine alternator and produce electrical power.

“The Company believes that integrating a gas turbine engine with a solar dish concentrator has never been achieved on this large scale,” said Brad Forst, CEO. “This is an enormous milestone in our development program. This proof of concept sets the stage for the commercialization of our technology which is well under way,” he said.

The test was the third stage of an integrated development plan. The Company previously announced the commissioning of its solar dish in late 2010, and in June 2011 announced the successful testing and high-temperature performance of its proprietary receiver.

“This system performance gives us confidence that we can achieve significant operational advantages over other concentrating solar power (CSP) systems, such as steam-based trough and power towers that require water cooling, and over typical photovoltaic (PV) that are intermittent in nature,” said Herb Hayden, Chief Technical Officer. “Our unique air-based turbine cycle has the potential for high efficiency, and can be constructed from distributed scale up to any size. It is inherently air-cooled, and so does not use any water for cooling. For firm-power reliability, the turbine may be hybridized with fuel for continued power generation during clouds and evening hours,” Hayden said.

The turboalternator and receiver components were developed in partnership with Brayton Energy LLC, of Hampton, N.H.

The full-scale field testing was conducted at the Company’s headquarters and operations facility at Southwest Solar Research Park in Phoenix, Arizona. www.swsolartech.com

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Contacts

Southwest Solar Technologies
Tina Suarez, 480-283-4028
tinasuarez@swsolartech.com

PHOENIX–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Southwest Solar Technologies Inc. announced today the successful on-sun testing and proof of concept of a high temperature air receiver. The high temperature air receiver is a prototype test component to validate the design for the advanced solar-turbine power system being developed by the Company. The Company’s system uses a parabolic solar dish with mirrors to concentrate the sun’s energy to power a high-efficiency turbine engine and produce electricity.

The testing was conducted using the Company’s 320 square meter solar concentrating dish, the largest solar dish in North America. The dish is capable of delivering over a quarter megawatt of thermal energy in the form of concentrated sunlight, focusing the equivalent heat of 2,000 suns into the proprietary design “receiver.” Inside this receiver compressed air is super-heated to power a high speed turbine alternator. Initial testing was conducted with attenuation screens on the dish to reduce the input energy to 50 kWth, approximately 20% of full capacity. Even at this reduced power, the receiver operated at the temperature goal of 925 C (1700 F), and met goals for efficiency.

“This high temperature performance achieved far exceeds typical 400 C temperature of other concentrating solar power (CSP) systems, such as trough and power towers, that use steam turbine technology to produce electricity, and the system requires no water cooling. The Company’s unique air based turbine cycle, operating at much higher temperatures, is designed to achieve greater than 30% efficiency. This efficiency would far exceed typical photovoltaic (PV) or other CSP solar power systems,” said Herb Hayden, Chief Technical Officer.

“We are moving our solar-turbine technology forward consistently and methodically. This is the latest big milestone in our development work,” said Brad Forst, CEO. “We believe we are the leading innovators in this space.”

The test results and data also position the project for the next phase of funding from the US Department of Energy (“DOE”) under a program being conducted by Brayton Energy LLC with participation by Southwest Solar.

Testing is conducted at the Company’s facility at Southwest Solar Research Park in Phoenix, Arizona. www.swsolartech.com

Contacts

Southwest Solar Technologies
Tina Suarez, 480-283-4028
tinasuarez@swsolartech.com

May 3, 2011 – Phoenix, Arizona

Southwest Solar Technologies Inc. today announced an agreement with Burns & McDonnell Engineering to research and test new solar technology at the Southwest Solar Research Park in Phoenix, Arizona. Southwest Solar’s 18-acre, state-of-the-art, secured facility is located just south of Sky Harbor Airport. The focal point of the facility, a 75 foot diameter concentrating solar dish.  This dish is the largest commercial solar dish in North America, one of the largest in the world.

Burns & McDonnell is leading a collaboration with Abound Solar, Inc., a leading manufacturer of next-generation, cadmium telluride thin-film photovoltaic modules, Suntech Power Holdings Ltd., the world’s largest producer of photovoltaic modules, and Power-One, Inc., a leading manufacturer of renewable energy and energy-efficient power conversion and management solutions, to install a 3.5kW photovoltaic (PV) test system. Burns & McDonnell provides engineering, architecture, construction, environmental and consulting services to clients throughout the world.

The 3.5 kW installations will consist of three solar arrays configured with test instrumentation with the primary objective to determine the effect of different types and amounts of cooling on the test arrays.  Additionally, the arrays will be adjustable so that the effects of varying tilt angles can be tested.  Two different types of solar modules, Thin Film and Crystalline Silicon, will be compared to see their performance relative to different ambient conditions. Lastly, long term performance data will be collected on both the modules and the inverters.

“We welcome these fine companies to the Research Park, who join other innovators as we all work to advance the solar energy industry,” said Brad Forst, CEO of Southwest Solar Technologies.

Southwest Solar is working on renewable energy’s toughest problems: mitigating intermittency, eliminating water use, and reducing the significant capital costs associated with solar energy solutions. The Company’s system uses a concentrating solar dish with mirrors to concentrate the sun’s energy to power a high-efficiency gas turbine engine. This is a unique approach utilizing concentrating solar power (CSP) while using no cooling water, and with the capability of firm power using backup fuel and energy storage.  The first solar dish-turbine system is under testing at the Southwest Solar Research Park in Phoenix, Arizona.

Phoenix, Arizona, February 15, 2011. Southwest Solar Technologies Inc. announced today that it has commissioned the largest commercial solar dish in North America, one of the largest in the world. The solar dish concentrator is used as part of the Company’s dish-turbine solar power system for generating electricity.  The dish structure is currently in routine daily operational testing at the Southwest Solar Research Park, in Phoenix Arizona.

Approximately 75 ft in diameter, the dish has a solar collection area of over 320 square meters, making it over three times larger than other solar dishes currently used for commercial power production.  The Company projects that this will give it the capability to generate three times the power of other dish designs, which will result in higher capacity and fewer dish units per acre for the comparable power production.

The size of the dish is designed to optimize the turbine generator that the Company is developing in conjunction with Brayton Energy LLC of Hampton, New Hampshire.  Prior efforts by others to use turbines on solar dishes have not yet been commercially successful in part because the efficiency and the costs of turbines are less favorable at smaller turbine and dish size.

The Company’s current activities include detailed operational testing of the dish and the key components for the turbine generator.  In the second half of the year, plans are to begin initial power-output testing of the combined new system, which will be powered by the sun.

Southwest Solar Technologies, established in 2008, operates at the Southwest Solar Research Park in Phoenix. Its solar dish-turbine concept was initially launched under support by the U.S. Department of Energy. The product is designed to deliver a renewable energy solution where requirements are non-intermittent power, low water use, and scalability. www.swsolartech.com

January 13, 2011 (Phoenix) – Southwest Solar Technologies announced today that it has completed initial development of the Southwest Solar Research Park in Phoenix, Arizona. The 18-acre, state-of-the-art, secured facility is located just south of Sky Harbor Airport. The focal point of the facility, a 75 foot diameter concentrating solar dish, is visible to commuters as they cross the Salt River along Interstate 10.

The Research Park is designed to serve as a world class center for renewable energy research and innovation.  The Solar Research Park provides the Company’s engineers and development partners with abundant sunlight and field space to operate and evaluate new solar technology.  The site offers convenient access to the city’s universities and tech industry base because it is located on a major arterial in a major metropolitan area.

“The Company is in discussions with other renewable energy businesses to co-locate at the park to promote collaboration and make land available for testing or demonstration projects,” said CEO Brad Forst.  Potential collaborators could include universities, private companies, and government-sponsored projects.

“This is an important milestone for our company,” stated Herb Hayden, Chief Technical Officer. “The facility combines our operational headquarters with a uniquely placed research and development complex for others that are seeking to advance solar technology.”

Southwest Solar Technologies is a developer of an innovative new solar power system that combines the high efficiency of a solar dish concentrator with the durability and performance of gas turbine engines. Founded in 2008, the company is focused on this unique approach to provide concentrating solar power (CSP) while using no cooling water, and with the capability of firm power using backup fuel and energy storage.  Firm power is a clear advantage over standard photovoltaic or wind systems that are intermittent due to weather. SST is unique in its approach to design a purpose-built gas turbine for this solar application, rather than modifying commercial equipment that was designed for other purposes. www.swsolartech.com

SOUTHWEST SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES INC. today announced the appointment of Bradley P. Forst as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Forst brings over 35 years of experience as a CEO with an extensive background in technology commercialization, R&D, manufacturing, law and finance.  He was formerly the president and CEO of Simula, Inc., a publicly traded AMEX company based in Phoenix, and president and CEO of Gradient Analytics Inc, Scottsdale, Arizona.

“I am excited to join Southwest Solar as the company transitions to the next level,” said Forst. “The Company’s R&D and engineering strength have created a sound foundation as we move to commercialization and promotion of our technology and product,” he said.

“Southwest Solar is the developer of an innovative utility-scale power system that combines the efficiency of dish concentrating thermal solar power with the reliability of a turbine.  This approach can be hybridized for use with fuel to address the intermittency problems associated with standard solar and wind power products, “ said Forst.

“We believe Brad’s experience is well matched to the strategic plan of the Company as we move forward,” said Josh Rosen, Vice Chairman.  “Our plans include building strategic U.S. and international relationships for product refinement, manufacturing, and project development,” he said.

Forst has worked in a number of senior positions in business and law. As CEO he led Simula through a successful corporate turn-around and sale. At Gradient he led the company through a growth period and its first entry into international markets. He has served on four corporate Boards of Directors, including as Audit Committee Chairman of a NASDAQ company. Forst was formerly a securities attorney and partner in two Phoenix law firms. He teaches as an adjunct professor at both the W.P. Carey School of Business and the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, at Arizona State University.

Southwest Solar Technologies, established in 2008, operates at the Southwest Solar Research Park in Phoenix. Its solar dish-turbine concept was initially launched under support by the U.S. Department of Energy. The product is designed to deliver a renewable energy solution where requirements are non-intermittent power, low water use, and scalability. www.swsolartech.com