Commentary: Energy Secretary Chu’s visit a glimpse into solar, renewable energy future

SEAL BEACH, Calif.--April 26, 2013--

Amonix Inc., the leading designer and manufacturer of concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) solar power systems, announced today that it has successfully converted more than 36% of direct sunlight into electricity. A module showcasing Amonix's latest-generation CPV technology has been in outdoor testing from late February to April of this year. During this period, the Amonix module demonstrated a peak operating efficiency of 36.2% measured on March 14, 2013 with a DNI of 876 W/m(2) , an ambient temperature of 16degC and instantaneous wind speed of 1 m/s, breaking the previous 34.2% peak efficiency set by Amonix in May 2012.

Over the entire testing period, the Amonix module earned a National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) outdoor efficiency rating of 34.9%, a new world record, under international standard operating conditions for concentrator photovoltaics of 900 W/m(2) , 20degC ambient temperature and 2m/s wind speed, breaking the previous 33.5% rated efficiency record also set by Amonix in May 2012. The module uses Boeing Spectrolab 40% high efficiency solar cells and Amonix's proprietary CPV technology to achieve world record performance.

This result continues Amonix's long history of leading the world in solar module efficiency, having been the first to convert over 1/3(rd) of the sun's energy in May 2012, and the first to break 30% module efficiency in 2011.

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The Western United States is a big place. The sheer scale of the landscape overwhelms; in many states you can drive hundreds of kilometers in any direction, through prairies, forests, mountains and deserts, without encountering a city.

This land has always attracted ambitious individuals; after the Native Americans came trappers, prospectors for gold and silver, farmers, ranchers, those fleeing religious persecution, and more recently, hippies and entrepreneurs.

In the Western state of Colorado, on the high prairie of the San Luis Valley, facing the wall of the San Juan Mountains, is one of the most ambitious solar projects yet undertaken. Above the rabbitbrush and greasewood are a series of 15 by 21 meter arrays of lenses, rising on hundreds of metal poles like an alien orchard.

This is Cogentrix' Alamosa Solar project, the world's largest concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) project, which we bring you as Solar Server's November 2012 Solar Energy System of the Month.

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