CSP Today talks to Michael Ondrus, director for solar energy systems at Glasstech, about generating greater cost efficiency throughout the value chain for parabolic trough glass components.

By Rikki Stancich

In Februaruy 2008, Glasstech, Inc., a glass bending and tempering equipment manufacturer, formed a new business unit to meet the solar energy industry’s burgeoning demand for flat and bent glass substrates. Nearly two years on, CSP Today catches up with Michael Ondrus to find out what innovations are being rolled out and how the CSP sector will gain.

CSP Today: What are the major technical challenges associated with shaping the reflective glass used on parabolic troughs that have traditionally driven up costs?

Michael Ondrus: The key issues have always been trying to shape the glass to the specification required by different customers, given that the sizes and shapes required can vary considerably.

Specifically, with the expansion of our product line we are building on existing technology for the CSP industry (mainly parabolic troughs) through the addition of our latest system, the CRB-S 1900, which can encompass the industry standard shapes into one machine. 

It handles all three of the most common parabolic trough sheets, namely the RP-2, RP-3 and the new RP-4 category, which is up to 1900 mm wide. And the glass is now 4-5 times stronger than previously.

CSP Today: What competitive advantage does this generate throughout the value chain?

Michael Ondrus: Because we are supplying the glass manufacturers, they benefit directly because they can put out a much higher volume, with repeatability.  This can really drive their costs and, of course, the cost saving is passed onto the end customer. So we’re making the process more price-competitive.

CSP Today: Glasstech claims that the new CRB-S 1900 is more energy efficient.  Can you please explain how?

Michael Ondrus: The efficiencies are generated through our bending technology. The glass component can be bent more efficiently, which means higher volumes can be produced, and the process is also more efficient in terms of use of heat. Subsequently, manufacturers are able to lower cost and boost volume.

CSP Today: What is demand for glass bending technology like in the current environment of regulatory and economic uncertainty?

Michael Ondrus: There is a great interest in these types of systems, given the potential cost-benefits to our direct customers, as well as to the end-customer.

CSP Today: The new CSR-S 1900 can handle widths up to 1900mm.  Is there an increasing trend toward larger components – is this the way the market is headed?

Michael Ondrus: There is a demand from end-customers for larger parabolic trough shapes. The thinking is that this can drive up solar field efficiency and drive down costs. Systems out there are getting larger.

Customers come to us with specific shape requirements and we are now providing solutions that enable them to produce higher volumes, repeatedly, to specification.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to individual organisations’ specifications. So far, parabolic trough technology is the most proven, or mature.  We’ve made advances in our technology offering to improve existing products.

In this economic climate, it’s often the tried and trusted products that have the competitive advantage, because they provide the confidence that not only does the system work, but it works well. This is important when it comes down to securing project financing.

CSP Today: What is the future for glass shaping for the CSP sector?

Michael Ondrus: The intent is to continue to provide products that are very precise – the more precise they are, the more efficient the end product, which lowers costs all round.

In terms of the potential of glass, there will be different glass substrates, glass that stays cleaner, longer.

From the glass-bending viewpoint, the thicknesses of glass can differ significantly, depending on what works best for different CSP technologies. Glasstech has to pre-bend and strengthen the glass, depending on its application. So, we need to stay on top of glass innovations coming onto the market in order to develop the technology to handle any changes in compositions.