Frequently Asked Questions
What does Skyline Solar do?
Skyline manufactures patented High Gain Solar (HGS) arrays for the commercial, industrial and utility scale solar industries.
What is HGS?
HGS combines a series of system level design attributes which drive lower installed cost and higher energy yield relative to traditional fixed tilt PV panels. As the solar industry matures customers value energy yield and cost more than peak “nameplate” rating. The movement to HGS started with the adoption of high efficiency monocrystalline silicon cells and tracking technology to increase energy yield and now includes a series of other improvements including the use of concentration with reflective materials which reduces the amount of silicon required by ninety percent, other design elements include lower cost panel designs, convection cooling, better string & shadow management, streamlined installation and maintenance. Systems which combine one or more of these attributes are considered to be driving higher gain.
Are Skyline HGS Arrays available for installation today?
Yes! Skyline has had systems in the field generating power since early 2008 and we are negotiating contracts with partners and end customers for installations in 2010 and 2011.
What makes Skyline’s approach unique?
Skyline’s patented HGS architecture is unique in terms of completeness of solution and performance.
Completeness of Solution: Skyline combines at least a dozen different high gain attributes into a total systems solution. It leverages high gain opportunities at every step of the life cycle from materials to manufacturing, shipping, installation, operations and maintenance and end of life recyclability. The main parts of the solution are the HGS array and panel, reflective rack, tracking and mounting hardware and optional remote monitoring.
Performance: Skyline’s solution drives ten times more energy per gram of silicon and provides similar energy density and output to industry leading single axis tracked silicon PV systems.
How does Skyline achieve 10 times the energy from a gram of silicon?
Skyline achieves 10 times the energy from a gram of silicon through tracking and concentration. Tracking provides 30% gain and concentration does the rest relative to fixed tilt silicon PV. Concentration is enabled by the use of reflective materials to replace most of the silicon cells. Our design also includes a novel convection cooling system on the back of each HGS panel to improve energy output.
If you're concentrating 10 times more sunlight on your solar panels, won't they wear out (or degrade) much faster than solar panels that don't use concentration?
Not at all. Ultraviolet (UV) light and heat are the primary causes of deterioration in solar panel performance. We use an encapsulant (the clear material that separates the solar cells from the top glass) that does not degrade or discolor in UV light. In addition, our systems include heat sinks that are cooled by natural convection. As a result our cell temperatures are similar to those of traditional flat PV panels without concentration. We confidently warranty our systems for 25 years.
Can you tell me what the performance is for each array and how many acres are required per megawatt?
Performance is site specific and is available to potential customers upon request. Energy density is similar to leading single axis tracked silicon PV systems.
Who are Skyline Solar’s customers?
Skyline is working with developers and installers of grid-connected utility, industrial and commercial systems. Target end customers include commercial, industrial, education, government and utility customers in sunny climates. Ideal locations include California, the US Southwest, Southern Europe, the Middle East, Africa and parts of Asia.
Are HGS systems designed for the residential market?
HGS systems are designed for ground mounted systems of 60 kilowatts or more. Very few residences need a system that large.
How much power can a Skyline Solar plant produce?
Skyline’s HGS architecture is ideally suited for systems ranging from 60 kilowatts to many megawatts. There is no fundamental limit on how large the plants can be.
How much do Skyline HGS systems cost and what is the warranty?
Pricing is available to potential customers and Skyline offers an industry-leading 25 year warranty. |
