HCPV solar field to be built

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CANOGA PARK, Calif., Nov. 14 (UPI) -- Pratt and Whitney Rocketdyne will continue work to design and develop a 200-kilowatt, high-concentration photovoltaic solar-power field for the U.S. military.

The project is to demonstrate the performance and cost-effectiveness of HCPV technology for use at U.S. Department of Defense installations. Ultimately, the technology would be used for large commercial utilities and industrial applications, the company said.

"We're honored the Department of Defense has chosen Pratt and Whitney Rocketdyne to further demonstrate this revolutionary technology, which provides clean energy and shines a light on greater energy independence and energy security," said Neeta Patel, director, Energy Systems, Pratt and Whitney Rocketdyne.

The HCPV solar field will be built at Edwards Air Force Base in California and would include a dozen commercial-scale dual-axis HCPV units that track the sun from sunrise to sunset to feed the electrical grid.

Each unit will contain about 60 square yards of the HCPV modules, manufactured by Semprius, Inc., of Durham N.C.

Pratt and Whitney Rocketdyne said the modules have a concentration ratio of 1,111 suns.

The contract from the Department of Defense's Environmental Security Technology Certification Program office is worth $2.3 million.