News
3M and Gossamer Space Frames to Inaugurate World’s Largest Aperture
Parabolic Trough Installation- A New Benchmark in Solar Collectors
Cutting edge design and performance reduces costs for Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)
St. Paul, MN (May 2, 2012) – 3M’s Renewable Energy Division has teamed with Gossamer Space
Frames to unveil a new parabolic trough solar collector technology designed to significantly reduce
equipment and installation costs for CSP systems used in power generation. The Large Aperture
Trough 73 (LAT 73) features a concentration factor of over 100x and an aperture size of 7.3 m, both
world benchmarks for the industry.
The system combines the durability, design flexibility, and high reflectivity of 3M™ Solar Mirror
Film 1100 with the mechanical design innovations of Gossamer Space Frames; the result is a CSP
solar collector system that reduces the installed cost of a parabolic trough solar field by over 25
percent. The demonstration system is fully operational and is installed at the Sunray Energy facility
in Daggett, California. Sunray is owned and operated by Cogentrix Energy, LLC (Cogentrix) and is
the longest operating CSP facility in the United States. An event and ribbon cutting ceremony
hosted by Cogentrix, 3M and Gossamer is planned for May 2, 2012, at the Sunray facility to
introduce the demonstration system.
“The LAT technology is an exciting development for the CSP industry, as it demonstrates the
possibilities in solar concentrating technology,” said Dr. Dan Chen, business development manager,
3M Renewable Energy Division.
“By combining 3M innovations in materials and Gossamer Space Frames innovations in structure
and alignment, we are leading the industry on a new cost-reduction trend,” said Glenn Reynolds,
President and Co-founder of Gossamer Space Frames. “Many in the industry thought the re-birth of
CSP was not possible, but we are delighted to prove them wrong. Not only does this design
revitalize CSP, but the entire system comprises U.S.-manufactured components that, in turn, helps
to create U.S. jobs. We are thrilled to continue leading the way in CSP.”
3M Renewable Energy Division and Gossamer Space Frames, located in Huntington Beach, Calif.,
worked together closely on the LAT 73. The system’s technical and economic viability is enabled
by 3M Solar Mirror Film 1100 reflector panels, which are 50 percent lighter than glass, and offer
94.5 percent reflectivity (solar weighted total hemispherical reflectance). The combination of the
film’s superior optical performance and light weight enables the high accuracy, large aperture
collector design. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has verified performance of
the system, measuring an optical accuracy of more than 99 percent.
“We are pleased to be the first site for this state-of-the art technology,” said Sid Frymyer, General
Manager of Sunray Energy. “Innovative developments like this help demonstrate the on-going
advancements that lower the cost of solar energy within the U.S. power supply mix.”
The new system began operating in October 2011 and provides a peak of approximately 275 kw of
electricity to the output of the Sunray facility, all of which is provided under contract to Southern
California Edison.
3M and Gossamer Space Frames have received significant interest in the LAT 73 system from the
global CSP industry. A second LAT 73 project is underway in the Southern U.S., with the project
commissioning scheduled for June 2012.
For more details and downloadable information, visit: www.3m.com/presskits
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About 3M
3M captures the spark of new ideas and transforms them into thousands of ingenious products. Our
culture of creative collaboration inspires a never-ending stream of powerful technologies that make
life better. 3M is the innovation company that never stops inventing. With $30 billion in sales, 3M
employs about 80,000 people worldwide and has operations in more than 65 countries. For a recordsetting eighth consecutive year, 3M received the 2012 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence
Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy for its
comprehensive worldwide energy conservation efforts. For more information, visit www.3M.com
or follow @3MNews on Twitter.
3M is a trademark of 3M Company.
About Cogentrix
Cogentrix is a leading developer, owner and operator of independent power in North America.
Cogentrix was founded in 1983 and has continually been at the forefront of the development and
evolution of the independent power market. Cogentrix has been directly responsible for the
development, engineering, construction and operation of fossil and renewable power facilities with
a combined generating capability in excess of 5,000 MWs.
Contacts:
Emily Wozniak
Karwoski & Courage Public Relations
612-342-9635
e.wozniak@creativepr.com
or
Colleen Harris
3M
(651) 733-1566
From:
3M Public Relations and Corporate Communications
3M Center, Building 225-1S-15
St. Paul, MN 55144-1000