Solar technology to be discussed at latest in series of Gilford ...

Thursday, August 6, 2009

The Gilford Public Library and the Gilford Energy Committee present the fourth installment in the "Go Green" series tonight with a presentation by a solar power expert who will focus on solar power and the role heliostats have in the nation today.Speaker Dave Howell is associated with Practical Solar of Boston which has dedicated its business to introducing solar energy products that reliably meet significant energy needs and yield a positive return on investments.Howell is an expert in the field of small heliostats who has worked with businesses, homes, farms and other organizations for over 25 years. He currently specializes in strategic planning and profitability management for businesses and homeowners throughout New England."We think that in the future heliostats will dot the landscapes and will be on top of many rooftops," Howell said. "Concentrating solar power will become a significant component of energy production in the United States in the future."Some may wonder, 'What on earth is a heliostat?' The technology has been around for several decades, but it has only been recently with the advancement in computers and global positioning systems that they have been more practical and affordable to businesses and the typical homeowner. The word 'heliostat' is derived from two words, 'helios', the Greek word for sun and 'stat' as in stationary.A heliostat is a system of mirrors strategically placed in a square frame that follows the movement of the sun that is oriented throughout the day to redirect sunlight along a fixed axis toward a stationary target or receiver.Each unit can yield between 600 to 800 watts of energy which can be focused into a room of a house functioning as a space heater or a solar receiver. Heliostats can be used for several other different functions, including natural lighting, space heating and drying applications."One of the neat things is our customers dream up new applications all the time," Howell said. "We've heard of people using heliostats to melt snow, dry clothes, dry new paint or vanishing, melt snow or ice on car, heat swimming pools, heat dog houses, sign illumination and melting ice in gutters."Because each heliostat operates independently, the systems can perform different tasks at different times of the day or during different seasons of the year. During the winter season these units can be used as space heaters by reflecting sunlight into an area that doesn't receive sunlight or direct light through windows to a central object to be heated. Also in the winter these units can reflect light and provide adequate heat needed to grow vegetables. In the summer time the heliostats can be focused onto an alternate solar receiver such as a solar panel.Today solar power is not defined as a significant source of energy, as it totals only one-seventh of one percent of the total energy output in the United States. The big three producers right now are coal, natural gas and oil, which is followed by nuclear, hydroelectricity and biofuels."Heliostats are found all over the US," Howell said. "The conventional wisdom is that people think they have to be built in the Southwest."He explained that heliostats are currently being used in locations such as New England since the units are becoming more cost-effective over time."Payback for a unit here is almost identical or better than one in New Mexico," Howell said. "Solar energy will be cost-effective when you see there is going to be a six-year payback."With these units costing around $1000, some people have been hesitant about purchasing them. The next generation of units are planned to be less in cost, which will open up the industry to many households. Howell said he could see the units becoming more popular in the Northeast as time goes on.Howell will give a short presentation, answer any questions and demonstrate a heliostat device for workshop attendees.For more information on this Boston-based company, go to www.practicalsolar.com.