247Solar’s innovative concentrated solar power system stores sunshine for continuous clean energy, day & night.
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For the past two decades, solar and wind farms have become a familiar sight, revolutionizing how we generate electricity. However, complete decarbonization requires a broader arsenal of technologies. This is because renewable sources like solar and wind are intermittent, meaning they don’t produce power consistently. Additionally, they can’t provide the high temperatures crucial for many industrial processes.
Enter 247Solar, a company pioneering a novel approach to concentrated solar power (CSP) that addresses these limitations. Their high-temperature systems boast overnight thermal energy storage, enabling them to deliver round-the-clock clean power and industrial-grade heat.
247Solar’s story has deep roots at MIT. Bruce Anderson, the company’s CEO (class of 1969 and Master’s in 1973), served as the director of the Industrial Liaison Program (ILP) between 1996 and 2000. The ILP fosters innovation by connecting companies with MIT’s vast network of students, faculty, and alumni. This experience sparked Anderson’s entrepreneurial spirit and exposed him to the groundbreaking research coming out of MIT.
One such innovation was a high-temperature heat exchanger developed by the late MIT Professor David Gordon Wilson. Anderson teamed up with Wilson to commercialize this technology, leading to the formation of 247Solar in the early 2000s.
Their initial journey wasn’t smooth sailing. A crucial solar receiver was damaged during testing, and the company faced financial constraints. However, Anderson remained persistent. By 2015, advancements in materials science allowed him to swap the ceramic heat exchanger for a new high-temperature metal alloy, reviving the project.
247Solar’s system utilizes a field of sun-tracking mirrors (heliostats) to concentrate sunlight onto a central tower. The tower houses a proprietary solar receiver that heats air to a scorching 1,000 degrees Celsius at atmospheric pressure. This hot air then drives the company’s unique turbines, generating electricity and industrial-grade heat.
The system’s brilliance lies in its thermal energy storage. Excess hot air is diverted to a long-duration storage system, where it heats solid materials that retain the heat for later use. This stored thermal energy becomes the workhorse during the night, powering the turbines when the sun dips below the horizon.
Anderson emphasizes the system’s versatility. “We offer 24/7 electricity, but we also provide a combined heat and power option, with the ability to deliver heat up to 970 degrees Celsius for industrial processes,” he explains. “It’s a very flexible system.”
The COVID-19 pandemic threw a curveball at 247Solar’s plans for a demonstration facility. Despite this setback, strong customer interest has propelled the company forward. While concentrated solar power thrives in regions with clear skies like Arizona, Anderson is exploring opportunities in India, Africa, and Australia.
Looking ahead, 247Solar is increasingly exploring hybrid systems that combine their technology with traditional solar photovoltaic (PV) panels. This allows customers to leverage the cost-effectiveness of solar electricity during the day while seamlessly switching to 247Solar’s energy at night.
“We’re really moving toward these hybrid systems, which work like a Prius – sometimes you’re using one source of energy, sometimes you’re using the other,” says Anderson.
The company is also making waves with its standalone HeatStorE thermal batteries. These batteries, heated electrically using grid power, PV, or wind, can store heat for over nine hours and then release it as electricity and industrial process heat or high-temperature heat alone. Significantly, Anderson claims their thermal battery costs a mere one-seventh the price of lithium-ion batteries per kilowatt hour produced.
247Solar’s commitment to flexibility ensures that systems cater to individual customer needs on the path to complete decarbonization. From powering remote communities to aiding industrial decarbonization efforts, 247Solar’s technology offers a compelling solution for a cleaner and brighter energy future.