September 2010
Whitfield Solar Announces 50kW Purchase Order from Portugal
Leça da Palmeira, Portugal. Whitfield Solar are delighted to announce that SmallPower Energias Renováveis, Lda. (“SmallPower”), has placed an unconditional purchase order for 50 kW of WS:Si24 Solar Concentrators for delivery in Q3 2011. The product will be used for a ground mounted application – Portugal has excellent conditions for use of concentrated photovoltaics and a feed-in tariff which favours product with high energy yield.
The SmallPower purchase is Whitfield Solar’s second commercial sale in Portugal following the installation of a grid-connected commercial rooftop installation in Lisbon in August 2010. It is Whitfield Solar’s first Northern Hemisphere order comprising more than 100 units of WS:Si24 Solar Concentrators.
Stephen Bates, CEO of Whitfield Solar, said: “We have identified Portugal as a key market for Whitfield Solar’s technology, where its advantages lead to maximised returns for end users. We are delighted that SmallPower has placed a firm order for 50kW of our Solar Concentrators. We have been working with SmallPower for some months and are looking forward to further developing our relationship with them as we build capacity to satisfy the high levels of demand for our product”.
Joao Pinheiro, Executive Manager of SmallPower, said: “SmallPower has unique and ambitious growth objectives. We value the investment in elements that enhance competitiveness. Whitfield’s work is remarkable and therefore we are very glad to be one of their representatives in Portugal and we are sure that their work will be a vital element for our success in the projects we are involved".
Whitfield Solar Limited, a spin-out from Reading University, has developed a low-cost range of photovoltaic concentrator (CPV) products for genuinely sustainable solar power generation. Whitfield’s CPV units take the sun’s energy and concentrate it, via an array of Fresnel lenses, onto a small surface area of various high-performance photovoltaic materials (a tiny fraction of that used by flat plate technology). Designed to be used in both large scale ground-based ‘solar farms’ as well as smaller roof-top installations, this platform offers a number of advantages including low cost of manufacture and installation, minimal weight, high scalability and robustness.
SmallPower Energias Renovaveis Lda provides products, services and solutions for energy efficiency through the use of renewable energy in construction and agriculture. The company aims to meet and exceed the needs and expectations of customers and partners, providing them with added value through their services.
September 2010
Whitfield Solar Announces First CPV Installations In Australia
Queensland and New South Wales, Australia. Applied Solar Wind Solutions, Whitfield Solar’s partners in Australia and surrounding territories, are delighted to announce the first installations of Whitfield Solar WS:Si24 Solar Concentrators in the Southern Hemisphere.
The first site, a 2kW residential rooftop installation, went live on the Gold Coast in Queensland at the end of August. The site is undergoing load testing and has been equipped with a full measurement suite to allow remote (IP-enabled) monitoring and control. The site is believed to be Australia’s first residential concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) installation and is Whitfield Solar’s first residential installation worldwide. At the latitude of the Queensland site, Whitfield Solar’s units are expected to yield up to 15% more energy per day than equivalent flat plate .
The second site, a 3.3kW ‘on farm’ installation was installed in New South Wales. This customer-owned site is generating power and will be run alongside a fixed flat panel installation for the purposes of direct comparison. This first worldwide ‘on farm’ installation of Whitfield Solar WS:Si24 Solar Concentrators also features a first use of Applied Solar Wind Solutions’ ‘GroundPlug’ ground mount system that is efficient, robust and guaranteed 100% free of concrete and any associated Carbon footprint. Unlike other solar products, no complex fixings, foundations or heavy plant are required, thus making installation a straightforward process.
Stephen Bates, CEO of Whitfield Solar, said: “We are delighted to have our first commercial installation in the Southern Hemisphere thanks to our partnership with Applied Solar Wind Solutions. Australia is a particularly appropriate market for CPV and our WS:Si24 Solar Concentrator fits the bill for all the main applications – ground and roof-mount; commercial and residential; off- and on-grid”.
Graham Tiekle, Managing Director of Applied Solar Wind Solutions, said: “The physical installation process for both applications was simple and efficient. Early kW outputs exceed expectations and we look forward to providing precise comparative analysis as the results emerge. ASWS has already received pre-orders for similar installations and is currently dealing with power providers and remote power consumers looking to reduce total dependence on diesel generated power. In conjunction with Whitfield Solar, ASWS will provide an Australian based regional manufacturing capability for the Si24 concentrators commencing December 2010”.
Whitfield Solar Limited, a spin-out from Reading University, has developed a low-cost range of photovoltaic concentrator (CPV) products for genuinely sustainable solar power generation. Whitfield’s CPV units take the sun’s energy and concentrate it, via an array of Fresnel lenses, onto a small surface area of various high-performance photovoltaic materials (a tiny fraction of that used by flat plate technology). Designed to be used in both large scale ground-based ‘solar farms’ as well as smaller roof-top installations, this platform offers a number of advantages including low cost of manufacture and installation, minimal weight
August 2010
Whitfield Solar Enters the Portuguese Fast Growing Solar Energy Market
Whitfield Solar in co-operation with their Portuguese market distribution partner Bright Solar are pleased to announce the completion of the first commercial installation of WS:Si24 Solar Concentrators at a site near Lisbon, Portugal. The installation falls under the rapidly-expanding Portuguese microgeneration scheme which attracts a very favourable tariff for systems up to 3.68kW ac.
Whitfield Solar CPV technology was selected for this roof top installation because of the following advantages:
• Enhanced energy yield due to its dual-axis tracking system, maximising financial returns under a tariff structure which limits the maximum power, by keeping the output close to maximum for more of the day;
• Exceptional wind loading performance due to the aerodynamic design which reduces lift and drag by allowing air to channel trough the open structure; and
• Ease and low cost of installation – no complex fixings or foundations required.
The electricity generated from the installation will be delivered to the local utility grid.
This commercial installation is a key milestone for Whitfield Solar’s entry into the Portuguese market and also it is an important reference for Whitfield Solar technology. Portugal benefits from a high direct normal irradiance that it is perfectly suited for Whitfield Solar CPV technology.
Stephen Bates, CEO of Whitfield Solar, said: “We are delighted to have our first commercial installation in Portugal thanks to our partnership with Bright Solar. Whitfield’s CPV product is ideally suited to rooftop applications and we are pleased that we now have our first commercial installation in Portugal in place as the solar conditions here are excellent for CPV”.
Whitfield Solar Limited, a spin-out from Reading University, has developed a low-cost range of photovoltaic concentrator (CPV) products for genuinely sustainable solar power generation. Whitfield’s CPV units take the sun’s energy and concentrate it, via an array of Fresnel lenses, onto a small surface area of various high-performance photovoltaic materials (a tiny fraction of that used by flat plate technology). Designed to be used in both large scale ground-based ‘solar farms’ as well as smaller roof-top installations, this platform offers a number of advantages including low cost of manufacture and installation, minimal weight, high scalability and robustness. Whitfield Solar is well-known in the solar community and has had prototypes running in Spain for the last two years.
Bright Solar is a Portuguese company specialising in renewable energy promotion and installation across the entire Portuguese territory. The company have a compact team but employ additional installers on a contract basis according to their workload. A distinguishing feature of the company is its reputation for high quality installations.
January 2008
Whitfield appoints new CEO and closes further funding round
Whitfield Solar, the developer of low cost solar concentrator technology, has announced Stephen Bates will join as CEO, to help drive forward the company’s strategy for growth and development.
Mr Bates joins from ANGLE plc where he was UK CEO. He has an MBA from Cranfield and has also held senior positions with Sagentia, Arthur D. Little, and Marks and Spencer.
As the announcement is made, Whitfield can reveal it has closed an interim funding round of approximately $2M to enable it to complete its product development, take its solar concentrator through accreditation testing and install a grid-connected demonstration site in Spain.
The equity investment came from existing shareholders Carbon Trust Investments (CTIL) who partnered with new shareholder Kilsby Ltd.
In parallel with the intense product development work planned for 2008, Whitfield will complete its long-term growth plans and return to the investment community in the second half of the year to fund its expansion and diversification.
The company has also made a number of new hires to reinforce its board of directors, project management and engineering resources.
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Ian Collins joins as Project Director from McLaren Automotive
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Chris Lee joins the board as a non-exec director from his role as CEO of MicroGen, the CHP (Combined Heat and Power) spin-out from British Gas.
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Sylvain Chonavel joins Whitfield to head-up the mechanical engineering function from ArvinMeritor
Stephen Bates, CEO said, “It is with great enthusiasm and excitement that I take up this role. It is rare that one gets the opportunity to join an organisation with such potential and where the proposition is so close to market. Now we have our team in place, I am looking forward to a year of rapid progress, growth and engineering excellence”
Jonathan Bryers, Investment Partner at Carbon Trust Investments, said, “We are delighted at the calibre of the commercial and product development team that is now in place at Whitfield to take their low cost solar concentrator product to market. We believe the market will increasingly focus on cost and simplicity within the solar sector and Whitfield is well placed to exploit this opportunity.
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Notes to Editors
As part of Whitfield’s strategy of bringing low cost solar concentrators to the market it has recently reinforced its board of directors, project management function and engineering resources with seven new joiners.
Since Whitfield is committed to bringing engineering excellence to its innovative new concentrator technology, these appointments are critical to the next phase in its planned growth.
Stephen Bates
He is a Cambridge engineer with a career grounded in the product development industry and more recently in technology strategy and new venture management.
Ian Collins
Ian’s project management experience has been gained over 15 years in the automotive sector with Rover Group and BMW. He is a graduate electronics engineer from UMIST.
Chris Lee
Chris brings over 20 years experience of engineering management and product development from the automotive sector with high profile roles at TWR, BMW and MG Rover Group.
Sylvain Chonavel
Sylvain gained his design and development experience with the 1st tier automotive supplier of motor assemblies, ArvinMeritor where, as Engineering Manager, he worked in France, S.Africa and the US.
About Whitfield Solar
The company was set up in 2004 as a vehicle to commercialise the research work of Dr George Whitfield from the University of Reading into low-cost solar concentrators. He was joined by fellow founders Dr Roger Bentley and Dr Clive Weatherby.
Whitfield Solar’s launch product is initially aimed at the high-growth market for land-based solar farms. It competes with flat-plate photovoltaic (PV) offerings on four levels. It is lower cost; lower weight; has lower embodied energy; and requires lower-tech manufacturing processes. Whitfield’s product takes the sun’s energy and concentrates it via an array of Fresnel lenses onto a fraction of the surface area of silicon solar cells that conventional PV panels require. As such it is insulated from the shortages of solar silicon and immune to shortages of solar glass which both threaten the PV industry.
Whilst using tried and tested solar silicon for its launch product, it is set up to embrace new solar cell technology when it has demonstrated the same levels of long-term reliability.
Whitfield is well-known in the solar community and has had prototypes running in Spain for the last 2 years.
Carbon Trust Investments finances emerging clean energy technology businesses that demonstrate commercial potential. It specialises in identifying and investing in early stage technologies and credible management teams with the ability to create and deliver ‘low carbon’ businesses. It is a co-investor of choice in the low carbon technology field. The Venture Capital team is strongly supported by in-house technical and strategy groups.
Kilsby is the off-shore arm of a large industrial fund with a focus on engineering businesses in the renewables sector.