Concept

Solar Fire Design

Wood fires have become popular because they are 1. Simple 2. Can be built locally and 3. Can reach the high temperatures needed to perform most thermal energy tasks.

For solar concentration to be deployed on a massive scale it must have similar characteristics. Though a parabola is the ideal shape to concentrate light, they have proven expensive to build, especially at larger scale needed to rival fires.

The Solar Fire approach is to transform the parabolic problem into a series of standard construction problems using standard construction material and tools.

Solar Fire Concentrators are made of entirely straight members that require no machining (just cutting, drilling and welding). This radically reduces cost and makes it possible to build almost anywhere in the world. Solar Fire has been built in Canada, Mexico, Cuba, France, India, Mali, Kenya, Burkina Faso, Texas, California ... and perhaps now where you are!

Why Solar Fire?

Humanity currently consumes more thermal energy, from home, water heating to agricultural and industrial processes, than for any other purpose. Likewise, in terms of energy needs we really only need heat and food energy. So, from both perspectives, the economy is fundamentally thermal and so renewable thermal technology can have the greatest impact on reducing carbon emissions at the industrial level, reducing deforestation at the local level, and bringing energy to those in need and developing local sustainable economies.

For over 200 000 thousand years we’ve relied on burning plants. Recently we’ve started burning fossilized plants in the form of coal, oil and gas. The plants, however, of course got their energy from the sun.

Solar concentration is simply an upgrade to this 200 000 year old plant burning technology. By replacing organic carbon fires with direct “solar fires” the process of harvesting solar energy can be far more efficient with minimal impact on the ecosystem.

Since plants and fossil fuels are becoming increasingly depleted in many areas and fossil fuels out of reach for many, solar concentration can also significantly increase energy access. For instance to treat cholera often only requires clear water, which in many cases requires only the energy to boil it.