Comments on: Solar Patent King Boeing Teams Up With Stirling Energy Systems

By: the STIRLING AGE - ARTHUR MAGAZINE – WE FOUND THE OTHERS

the STIRLING AGE - ARTHUR MAGAZINE – WE FOUND THE OTHERS — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 22:32:55 +0000

[...] Powered Engines http://earth2tech.com/2010/03/30/solar-patent-king-boeing-teams-up-with-stirling-energy-systems/ http://earth2tech.com/2010/01/14/stirling-energy-to-kick-off-its-first-plant/ “A little known [...]

By: Green Transportation – No Bailouts Necessary | Solar Power in Florida

Green Transportation – No Bailouts Necessary | Solar Power in Florida — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 02:28:44 +0000

[...] Solar Patent King Boeing Teams Up With Stirling Energy Systems [...]

By: The 3 R’s New | Energy Goes Green

The 3 R’s New | Energy Goes Green — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 22:55:18 +0000

[...] Solar Patent King Boeing Teams Up With Stirling Energy Systems [...]

By: nick

nick — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:25:49 +0000

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By: Edie

Edie — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 14:06:34 +0000

This is great news. Now SES can service other markets while they work to meet the demand of their $6 billion+ in current contracts.

By: Katie Fehrenbacher

Katie Fehrenbacher — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 12:29:04 +0000

@Ed, @Steve, Thanks, interesting thoughts. I'll dig into that.

By: Steve Geiger

Steve Geiger — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 06:55:52 +0000

I find it strange as well. SES and NTR have taken a major plunge in Stirling CSP, the nature of which requires them to create a series of major supplier sub-industries to serve them (engines, trusses, trackers, etc). This is obviously extremely capital-intensive, and has been a serious impediment to deployment for over 10 years.

Now they want to jump into CPV as well? I don't see many synergies, except being able to use the same dishes. But what about all the investment in the core engine technology? And what signal does it send to the suppliers they've been pleading with to build up and tool out facilities specifically tailored to supply them?

Plus the CPV dish technology just recorded the total collapse of its most advanced company (Solar Systems in Australia, sold last month for a measly $2 mn cash following a claimed $150 mn investment).

Different technologies (requiring heavy R&D), supply chains, operating parameters, cooling.....hmmm?

Seems that the Stirling business is not working for them. And NTR doesn't have the balance sheet to develop both.

By: Ed Gunther

Ed Gunther — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 02:44:24 +0000

I find it odd that a CSP start-up would hedge their bets by also investing in HCPV. CPV already has leading players well along the road to commercialization and deployments as well as numerous would-be start-ups. Looks like Stirling Energy Systems will add themselves to the lengthy CPV shakeout list.