SOLYS 2 Sun Tracker at CNIM’s Solar Concentrator Module
Published: Thursday, August 16, 2012
Originally named Constructions Industrielles de la Méditerranée, CNIM has an active environmental division that specialises in energy production from the treatment of household and industrial waste and biomass. Now the company is expanding into Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) systems. CNIM designs, develops and produces turn-key solutions. In July 2010 their prototype CSP module was installed at La Seyne sur Mer in the South of France.
The concentrator module uses Fresnel mirror technology that takes a large area of sunlight, concentrates it, and directs it towards a specific target in order to produce steam, and thus energy. The energy produced is renewable, storable, and easily integrated into the existing electrical networks. The CNIM technology is eco-friendly thanks to its low carbon footprint and the use of recyclable and non-polluting fluids and materials. The large and powerful stand-alone module has a 50 m x 20 m footprint and 720 m² of mirrors that can produce steam at up to 100 bar pressure.
The SOLYS 2 sun tracker and CHP 1 pyrheliometer from Kipp & Zonen are used to accurately measure the Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI) in order to determine the solar concentrator module performance. Thanks to the continuous measurement with Kipp & Zonen instruments, CNIM is able to calculate the energy output of its module and enhance its productivity and effciency.
On July 26th 2010 CNIM inaugurated its solar concentrator installation in the presence of Mr Christian Estrosi, the French Government Minister of Industry.
Kipp & Zonen SARL is working closely with a number of power companies in France to provide instruments for solar energy applications.
Find out more about CNIM at www.cnim.com