Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – VIDEO by David Corrigan
The World’s first MicroCSP Solar Thermal Plant was “turned on” at the Natural Energy Laboratory in Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii on Thursday.
Holaniku at Keahole Point is a 2 Megawatt thermal energy project which spans across 3.8 acres in the hot Kona desert, utilizing 1,000 Sopogy proprietary MicroCSP solar panels. Governor Linda Lingle, Mayor Billy Kenoi, and other leaders were present at the special Hawaiian blessing and ceremonial activation of the plant, and also to thank project visionary Darren T. Kimura, President and CEO of Sopogy, Inc.
“MicroCSP is an achievement in rugged, modular and cost effective solar thermal technology.” According to Kimura in a media release. “The completion and demonstration of this 2 megawatt solar thermal project is an important first step in bringing the solution to the World.”
Sopogy was founded in 2002, and according to the company’s website “specializes in MicroCSP solar technologies that bring the economics of large solar energy systems to the industrial, commercial and utility sectors in a smaller, robust and more cost effective package. Sopogy’s goal is to create solar solutions that improve the quality of life and simplify the solar power business.”
Holaniku is Sopogy’s 8th solar thermal energy facilities operating around the world. The company’s MicroCSP technologies are being used in such diverse applications as processing heat, solar air conditioning, roof top deployment and now, power generation.
