Arizona State University Research Partnership With Cutting Edge 24/7
Solar Technology
Arizona State University and AORA Solar NA announce a collaboration that will begin the
development of a hybrid concentrated solar system on the Tempe campus that employs
a Solar Tulip to concentrate the sun's energy, turning it into electricity.
Tempe, AZ - March 13, 2014
Solar generated electricity, which can suffer from intermittency issues and related impacts on
the grid, is about to blossom at Arizona State University. Work will now begin on the
development of a hybrid concentrated solar system, following a contract signing with ASU and
AORA to provide research expertise in order to enhance the efficiency of this unique
technology.
AORA Solar NA, has agreed to install the first ever Solar Tulip hybrid generating facility in the
United States on university land, and ASU faculty, research staff, and students will work hand in
hand with AORA to enhance the system. This project includes the installation of a hybrid
concentrated solar power plant that employs a Solar Tulip to concentrate the sun’s energy,
turning it into electricity. The system produces power 24/7, moving seamlessly from solar to
natural gas or biogas and is also promising because it uses little to no water while producing a
high quality thermal output in addition to power.
AORA Solar NA, a U.S. company, will work with a multi-disciplinary ASU team to research
options to increase efficiency, improve reliability, utilize the exhaust heat and decrease the cost
of this Israeli developed technology. AORA will construct the demonstration power plant, which
includes a tower (approximately 100 feet high) appropriately called the Solar Tulip, on
undeveloped land near the Karsten Golf Course in Tempe. The technology includes a collection
of mirrors to concentrate the sun’s rays to heat compressed air to more than 1800 degrees
Fahrenheit and drive a gas turbine. The rated output of the Tulip system is 100 kilowatts of
electricity and an additional 170 kilowatts of thermal energy, about enough energy to power
between 60-80 homes.
At night, or when overcast, the Tulip can use a wide range of fuels to heat the air and is thereby
able to produce power and heat round the clock. The system is modular in design, allowing for
multiple Tulips to work together, enabling the technology to match growing electric demand
requirements. The relatively small footprint makes this system a potentially perfect complement
to housing developments, or industrial parks, and offers an option to enhance grid stability in the
presence of transient renewable generation.
“ASU is a natural partner for us, not only because of its sunny location, but because of the
university’s dedication to innovation and sustainability,” said Zev Rosenzweig, CEO of AORA
Solar. “We are excited to make our debut here in the United States with this innovative
technology where we will continue to grow and develop the Tulip into a system that cities and
industries around the world use to generate continuous energy with renewable resources.
ASU’s breadth of research capability will undoubtedly allow us to increase output, and reduce
overall costs which will bring us to commercial viability. Our confidence in this project is
enhanced with the participation of Project Director, Ellen Stechel, who has spearheaded the
concept from the beginning, along with her colleagues Gary Dirks, William Brandt and the ASU
LightWorks team.”
AORA Solar is currently operating two additional research facilities, one located in a solar
research park in Almeria, Spain, and the original unit in Israel. These systems can be controlled
remotely via computer, a unique capability that provides innovative options for possibilities in the
U.S. and indeed around the world, including developing countries.
The ASU/AORA collaborative relationship will not only bring ASU closer to its goal of becoming
carbon neutral by 2025, but it will also benefit students and researchers across multiple fields of
study.
“This is another instance in which ASU has brought in cutting edge technology that its students
can learn from and help perfect,” said Sethuraman "Panch" Panchanathan, senior vice
president of Office of Knowledge Enterprise Development at ASU. “With this collaboration, the
university has established a commitment to integrate students, faculty, and staff into research
on the Solar Tulip design to bring 24-hour solar/renewable technology to commercialization.”
“The AORA/ASU collaboration provides a multitude of possibilities looking forward,” said Gary
Dirks, director of ASU LightWorks. “It is a perfect example of industry and academia coming
together and leveraging their unique strengths to create collaborative projects that propel new
and viable technology into our energy future. The Solar Tulip has enormous potential both at
ASU and beyond.”
AORA Solar has contracted with GreenFuel Technologies, a Phoenix-based General Contractor
specializing in environmental energy projects to construct the research plant at the ASU
campus. Groundbreaking is expected to occur in April, with the anticipated operation date to be
sometime in the late September/early October time frame. AORA Solar and ASU look forward to
welcoming university peers along with the public to a ribbon-cutting event at the Tulip’s
completion.
“We are pleased to host the Solar Tulip at the ASU Tempe campus,” said John Riley,
sustainability operations officer at ASU. “It is a visually iconic piece of technology, helping to
illustrate the way ASU is a destination place for state-of-the-art research and facilities.”
This collaboration was advanced by Arizona State University LightWorks, a research initiative
that unites resources and researchers across ASU to confront global energy challenges. The
LightWorks team provided the vision of required research, identified the multiple research
windows in which AORA will participate and is intimately involved in moving the project from
concept to fruition. With a proven track record of swiftly and strategically partnering with a
diverse set of institutions, LightWorks continues to help overcome challenges in the fields of
solar power, sustainable fuels, and energy policy. To learn more about ASU LightWorks, visit
asulightworks.com.
Left to right: Gary Dirks, director of ASU LightWorks, Zev Rosenzweig, CEO of AORA Solar and
John Riley, associate vice president of university business services and sustainability
operations officer.
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About AORA
AORA, a renewable energy pioneer, is a leading developer of applied ultra-high temperature
concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies. AORA’s modular solar power generation
solutions are comprised of very small modular units (100kWe / 170kW heat) that can be linked
together into centrally controlled power plants, customized to client demand. When the amount
of sunlight is not sufficient, the system can operate on almost any alternative fuel source,
thereby guaranteeing an uninterrupted power supply, 24hr/day. To learn more about AORA
Solar, please visit http://aora-solar.com/.