The airport of Pantelleria, Sicily, is in the process of installing a revolutionary solar energy plant that will supply lighting, air conditioning and other energy requirements. The new process, developed by Italian and American scientists, claims to have many advantages over traditional solar and photovoltaic technology, as regards efficiency, costs and recycling processes.
The innovative system, developed by Solergy Cogen CPV (Cogenerating Concentrated Photovoltaics), a company founded in California's Silicon Valley in 2007 and with an operative centre near Rome, uses long-lasting glass optic lenses rather than plastic or silicone lenses, encased in stainless steel cones that can be easily recycled. The use of glass optics guarantees at least 25 years high performance in all kinds of weathers and environments. The cone concentrators are mounted on a special tracker system that follows the movement of the sun in order to absorb the maximum energy possible. Other advantages include lower costs, improved energy production and a shorter payback time, compared with more traditional systems.
The main business partners of the new project are the Indian Videocon group and the Italian Lazio Green Energy service company, however, Solergy co-founder, engineer Giovanni Lanzara, stressed that almost all the Solergy technology has been designed and made in Italy.
A pilot Solergy plant has also been set up in the heart of Sicily, where it cools the wine cellars of the Casa Vinicola Lanzara at Baglio San Vincenzo, near Menfi. Wine producers take note!
For information: www.solergyinc.com
