New Rooftop Solar Thermal System Focuses on Space Heating and Cooling
| Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Nov 9, 2010 The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/new-rooftop-solar-thermal-system-focuses-space-heating-and-cooling/
Solar thermal has generally been two distinct worlds, rooftop solar hot water systems and utility-scale concentrating solar power plants.
No more.
A new rooftop solar collector can provide thermal energy rather than producing hot water or electricity for space heating and cooling. With inexpensive fresnel reflectors to concentrate sunlight, the Chromasun could prove an interesting way to use distributed solar thermal energy for more than just hot water.
The unit produces temperatures up to 220 Celsius and promises to use less roofspace than comparable systems using solar PV.
Now, what will it cost?