alarm:clock

Alternative Energy - Thursday, October 22, 2009

Let The Solar Innovation Begin: SolarTAC Opens For Business

Colorado is moving to the forefront of developing solar technology as the Solar Technology Acceleration Center (SolarTAC) announced today that it was “powering up” its test and demonstration facility in Aurora. By the end of the year, member companies will begin installing and testing solar installations that will include low cost, recycled ballasted ground mount systems, concentrating solar power technologies, and a study of how photovoltaic systems connect and interact with a grid.

SolarTac was founded by Abengoa Solar, the City of Aurora, the Colorado Renewable Energy Collaboratory, Midwest Research Institute (MRI), SunEdison, and Xcel Energy (XEL:NYSE) to develop a site where companies could test their products under actual field conditions. The City of Aurora, while not a solar energy developer, donated the land for SolarTAC and is developing additional 1,900 acres of land adjacent to the property as the Aurora Renewable Energy Campus.

The U.S. Government is quickly getting into the act as SolarTAC also announced today that the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) have signed letters of intent to join SolarTAC. NREL sees this as an opportunity for improved interaction with the solar industry and will be installing a $2 million advanced thermal energy facility for testing and evaluation. By conducting this pilot-program, NREL hopes to improve heat storage technologies.

Initially many people might find it odd that SolarTAC wasn’t developed in a desert location. But with temperatures ranging between 16 degrees to 90 degrees Fahrenheit and participation averaging around 18.5 inches a year in Aurora, member companies will be able to test their ideas in conditions that are similar to seasonal parts of the U.S.

By the end of year, SOLARTac estimates that will have spent $1.8M developing the site for its members including grading, drainage and soil erosion control, access roads, electric power supply and distribution, fire protection, sewer and water lines, communications lines, fencing and security.