The Sun Simba:

• uses a lot less material when compared to lens, mirror and prism based CPV modules, and even many silicon panels. Less material means lower module weight and more affordable panels.
• is made of acrylic, aluminum, and glass – all low-cost, high volume, global commodities. Our success will not drive up the cost of our materials, as thin film panel manufacturers will as they consume more of the fixed global supply of tellurium. Tellurium is an extremely rare metal found as a byproduct of copper mining (mining 500 tons of copper ore typically yields one pound, or 0.45 kg, of tellurium).
• is manufactured using simple, automated processes, at globally available manufacturing facilities, such as those equipped to make an automobile headlight. In contrast, thin film and silicon PV require new, high capital cost, clean-room factories. Further advantages of leveraging existing manufacturing infrastructure include:
  • putting to use a huge network of underutilized manufacturing facilities.
  • creating jobs near the sites where our panels will be installed, benefitting regional economies.

The Sun Simba:

• leverages the latest in high efficiency, multi-junction photovoltaic cells, also called III-V cells. The Sun Simba is a platform to harness these cells as cell technology improves.
• concentrates up to 1000 suns, with the potential for higher concentrations.
• made of highly efficient concentrating parts only. There is an absolute minimum of sun-exposed surface that isn’t capturing light, and very few losses in the optics, so the system functions at or near the theoretical limits of efficiency for solar PV systems.

The Sun Simba:

• blocks infrared radiation (IR) and prevents it from reaching the PV cell. The small loss in power as a result of blocking IR is compensated by the cooler cell’s higher efficiency.
• is designed to allow the panel to be cooled by convection; hot air escapes up and through vertical air spaces in the solar modules. By arranging the spacing vertically, in a Staggered Row, no dead space is introduced on the sun-facing surface.
• remains well within operational limits, even in critical conditions (-50° C ambient air temperature, 850 W/m2 of direct sunlight, 0 wind, 0 humidity).

The Sun Simba:

• by significantly reducing wind loads, can be mounted on lighter trackers, thereby lowering material costs and shipping costs. Wind loading is more important than panel weight when designing trackers; high wind loads require extremely heavy duty trackers.
• will have less downtime and lower maintenance costs due to high winds.
• reduces wind loading by up to 60 % (as predicted by models of our Gen 1 panels, operating at 70 km/h (43 mph) winds).

Sun Simba Panels:

• are recyclable with high recovery values at the end of their 25 year expected lifespan. Almost 100% of panel materials – which include aluminum, acrylic, glass, copper wiring and multi-junction cells – are recyclable.
• are non-toxic, don’t react with water and will not contaminate sites in any way.
• are mounted on sun tracking systems that allow for dual use of the land (as in the image above), and that minimize environmental impact.
• will offset a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions. 10 Megawatts of Sun Simba modules (the equivalent of a small solar farm) will offset up to 3,470 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year (based on Ontario Electricity Emission Factors).