Glass manufacturer Guardian Industries has reported the results of an independent performance study demonstrating that its EcoGuard Solar Boost-LP, a laminated parabolic mirror for concentrated solar …
Glass manufacturer Guardian Industries has reported the results of an independent performance study demonstrating that its EcoGuard Solar Boost-LP, a laminated parabolic mirror for concentrated solar power applications, provides industry-leading performance. The tests were carried out by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and compared the reflectance of EcoGuard Solar Boost-LP with standard 4mm monolithic mirrors currently used in most large solar fields. According to the tests, EcoGuard Solar Boost-LP has a higher solar reflectance at 96.75 than any measured 4-mm monolithic mirror. Moreover, according to the tests, Guardian“s laminated glass reflector has an initial solar-weighted hemispherical reflectance of 96.75 0.09, and an initial specular reflectance of 95.86 0.08 into a 25-mrad cone angle and 7-mrad of 94.93 0.97. NREL is also testing the long-term durability of EcoGuard Solar Boost-LP. “The CSP industry needs mirrors that will remain highly reflective for 30+ years with little to no degradation and will help lower the cost of electricity generated by CSP to be competitive with natural gas”, said NREL Senior Scientist Cheryl Kennedy.