OVERVIEW
OWNER: Stirling Energy Systems
LOCATION: Albuquerque, NM
COMPLETION DATE: March 2009
INDUSTRY SERVED: Energy
CAPABILITIES: Design-Build, Electrical
WHAT WE DID
B&D Industries, Inc., design-build prime contractor, in collaboration with Coupland-Moran Engineers, JB Henderson Construction and Botone Industries, designed and installed a new generation test facility for Stirling Energy Systems, Inc. (SES).
The 250 kilowatt project consists of 10 solar collection dishes with a Stirling Engine at their core. The installation was placed at Sandia National Laboratories’ (SNL) National Solar Thermal Test Facility and is one of the first research projects blending private interest with DOE prominence in solar research.
SES is using SNL to securely test and baseline their new solar technology. SES’ mission is to be an industry pioneer in the design and development of Concentrated Solar Power solutions, a direct competitor to photovoltaic technologies.
This project set a new solar-to-grid system conversion efficiency record by achieving a 31.25 percent net efficiency rate. The efficiency rating achievement earned a Breakthrough Award from Popular Mechanics magazine. This project was featured on the front page of SNL’s 2009 Labs Accomplishments.
