(Photo courtesy of Sopogy)

MEDIA RELEASE

Sopogy, Inc., a leading developer of reliable and cost-effective micro concentrated solar power (MicroCSP) technologies, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Yu Hao Long (YHL) Corporation, the developer of a patented Stirling energy generator for the installation of a 200MW concentrating solar plant for the China National Utility.

The MOU also formalized a goal to demonstrate the combined system in Hawaii during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) which will be hosted in Honolulu.

“This MOU signing brings a spotlight to Hawaii’s developing technology industry. I hope this collaboration is the first of many to come between Hawaii’s companies and the global economies we touch,” said Sen. Carol Fukunaga, Chairwoman of the Senate Economic and Technology committee.

“Sopogy’s proprietary concentrating solar platform produces high-temperature heat which is a robust energy source for clean power generation,” said Darren T. Kimura, President and CEO of Sopogy. “The heat we produce is captured in thermal energy storage tanks and helps to produce firm and reliable energy during the day into the evening peak. This makes for a perfect complement with a Stirling generator and the China energy grid.”

Kimura and YHL’s Dr. Francis Fung collaborated for over a year to identify and develop a plan for the mass production of YHL’s low temperature, hybrid Stirling engines which use ready-made auto components for utility scale power generation.

“The joint collaboration will create jobs and increase the export market for both China and America,” Dr. Fung said. “It is a natural pooling of resources of two great nations to work unanimously toward human and environmental harmony.”

“Sopogy’s work is a great example of Hawaii’s global market position as the ideal location for research and development of clean technologies. This agreement is a great step forward,” said Ted Peck, state energy administrator.

Most recently, the 5-megawatt Kalaeloa Solar One broke ground on the island of Oahu which will feature Sopogy’s MicroCSP technologies.

Designed, engineered and proven in the US, MicroCSP technology consists of parallel rows of proprietary parabolic mirror collectors, optics and an integrated tracker to concentrate the sun’s energy on a centrally-located receiver tube and re-circulate heat transfer fluid within the system.

The generated high-temperature heat will be used in conjunction with the hybrid Stirling engine to provide a renewable source of power.

Sopogy, Inc. engages in the development, design, manufacturing and marketing of MicroCSP technologies – a comprehensive, low temperature, low cost approach to solar thermal. MicroCSP brings the economics of large Concentrating Solar Power systems to the industrial, commercial and utility sectors in a more manageable, durable and faster to deploy kit.

Sopogy’s technologies are designed for the 2-50MW power class, 100-1,000 ton solar thermal air conditioning size and unlimited quantities of industrial process heat. The company’s two megawatt solar thermal field has been operational in Kona since March 2009.

It demonstrates the effectiveness and reliability of MicroCSP with Sopogy’s proprietary thermal energy storage solution. Sopogy’s award winning SopoNova solar collector was named New Product of the Year by the National Society of Professional Engineers and received Plant Engineering Product of the Year.

The company was founded in 2002 and is based in Honolulu.

— Find out more:
www.sopogy.com