4. Solar Concentrators

Concentrating solar technologies are in different stages of development; most of them have passed the testing and power production (on a small scale) phases and are being commercialised. Yielding the most power per area among all the solar concentrators is the parabolic dish and the latter was selected as our low-budget prototype of choice. The steps towards the final parabolic dish concentrator made with fibreglass have been enumerated in the pages of this chapter. To convert the parabolic dish to a solar parabolic concentrator, its surface has to be lined up with a reflective material so as to focus energy optimally. The different types of reflective materials have also been discussed with the pros and cons pointed out for each type. The choice of the solar concentrator along with the building materials, fibreglass and chrome vinyl reflector, were also fully justified in accordance with the ease of production and tight budget.