Solar thermal heat for industry

Orchid Solar makes modular solar thermal technology for factories that need very hot temperatures. Steel, bricks and glass plants are supplied with clean heat without burning fuel. The technology comes from patented Oxford University research. We have a prototype and successful tests in India and Kenya.

Customer Problem

Over 20% of global energy demand is for industrial heat. They burn costly fuels like natural gas, LPG or heavy oil to smelt and recycle metals, produce cement, or manufacture bricks, ceramics or glass. There is no cheap, proven renewable alternative at the temperatures these processes require.

Our Solution

Orchid Solar’s technology is a reimagining of concentrated solar technology. It focuses sunlight to make heat up to 1,200°C. The design uses a special patented optical system from Oxford University. It has been research tested in India and Kenya, and it provides clean competitive heat. Our working prototype has demonstrated the melting of an aluminium plate at over 660°C here in the Scottish sunlight!

Advantage

Orchid Solar differentiates from previous developments through 40% more energy capture, easy integration to industrial processes, and high temperatures. It is also a flexible platform technology that can be applied to multiple industries and scales from workshops to big plants.

Team

Parag Vyas
CEO & Co-founderBulit and led R&D teams at GE, Rolls-Royce, and Aggreko. Advisor to UK government on new technology. GWs of energy techology deployed.

Donald Naylor
CTO & Co-founderFormer Chief Engineer at Aquamarine Power and co-founder of Kinetic Hydro, developing renewable energy technologies from concept to trials.

Contact

[email protected]
The Higgs Centre for Innovation, Royal Observatory Edinburgh,
Blackford Hill, Edinburgh, EH9 3HJ, UK
Registered in Scotland: SC834989