System Description
A high density, low profile solar PV array powers the system.
The electricity flows to heating elements which deposit heat into the dirt.
Steam pipes embedded in the thermal storage system turn boiler feed water into steam.
Making the Steam Cheap
Dirt Cheap Storage
Solar PV is now so cheap it can provide industrial heat under the right circumstances. But, providing 24/7/365 energy with off-grid solar requires a lot of storage to balance daily and seasonal variation. We store heat in dirt to achieve storage costs similar to underground natural gas storage.
Off-Grid Solar
One-third of solar farm cost is related to creating grid-ready electricity and connecting to transmission lines. The Standard Thermal system deletes these components.
Simplified Solar Farm Design
Solar panels used to be so expensive that pricey tracking systems paid for themselves by maximizing output per panel. Falling solar panel prices flip the economics in favor of simpler, more compact racking systems that reduce overall cost.