Solar Power to Get Commercial-Grade Boost with New Inspection Technology and Shared Testing Site
Both the production and R & D aspects of the solar energy industry will be getting substantial improvements in the next few years. In an effort to increase production technology and facilitate faster deployment of innovation, several companies and organizations involved in large-scale solar power production are taking steps to streamline the industry. In other words, they want to narrow the time gap between idea and realization for companies and researchers throughout the solar sector.
Adept Technology
First to enter is Adept Technology, Inc. This global, cross-industry company provides intelligent robotics systems and services that maximize the speed and precision of product manufacturing. At this year’s Solar Power International Trade Show, Adept unveiled its latest foray into the solar industry: 2D and 3D high-resolution solar cell inspection technology. Both systems use image-capture technology to allow solar manufacturers easy, quick, and automated handling and inspection of solar cells. The Adept Quattro s650 robot will provide “a vital tool to improve efficiency and continue the trend to lower the cost of solar cells,” said John Dulchinos, president and CEO of Adept Technology, Inc.
Shared Testing and Evaluation
A collaborative effort between the Midwest Research Institute and several other groups will result in the world’s largest solar test and evaluation site in Aurora, Colorado. In yet another effort to streamline development of new technology, Solar Technology Acceleration Center (SolarTAC) will give researchers and manufacturers a place to test their innovations and provide a platform for the collaborative advancement of the solar industry as a whole.
In addition to MRI, the endeavor will include the city of Aurora, the Colorado Renewable Energy Collaboratory, Abengoa Solar, SunEdison LLC, and Xcel Energy. These founding companies, along with future members, will have the ability to bring their technologies –from the development to nearly-commercial stages – to a state of the art facility for testing and demonstration of their products for potential customers.
Research and development may be shared or strictly private, but the general concept of the facility is a partnership between highly regarded companies and research institutions. MRI, which co-manages the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo., will be SolarTAC manager as well. The Colorado Renewable Energy Collaboratory, which consists of Colorado State University, Colorado School of Mines and the University of Colorado, Boulder, will represent a large part of the facility’s research arm.
The initial phase of SolarTAC will be erected on a 74-acre site, although Aurora owns almost 1,900 adjacent acres for possible future expansion. To start, Abengoa Solar will construct an assembly building and begin testing their Concentrated Solar Power systems. SunEdison will develop a testing site for new photovoltaic system components and Xcel Energy plans to build a zero-energy structure, designed by CU-Boulder students, as a visitor’s center and solar exhibit.
Links:
- SolarTAC to Accelerate Solar Technology Development
- Midwest Research Institute Will Develop Solar Test Facility
- Aurora Lands Massive Solar Project
- Adept Technology to Showcase New 3D Inspection Technology at Solar Trade Fair
Posted on October 29th in Solar News by Dan.