Ahura Energy: A Breakthrough in Solar Thermal — But What is the Secret Sauce?
I just had a very interesting conversation on one of my favorite topics: solar thermal, or concentrating solar power (CSP). I came across Ahura Energy of Campbell, CA on the fantastic online resource OnGreen.com, and spoke with Dr. Fareed Sfard, the company’s CEO, who boasts over 20 years experience in the solar industry. Because we have no NDA in place at this point, Fareed needed to speak at a high level. But if what I was told is correct, the company’s patented Concentrating Solar System, that can be used in both utility scale and rooftop deployments, has a huge cost advantage over competitive approaches. “The system” (whatever this eventually turns out to be) moves the reflective and refractive elements without motors or electric actuators.
“But how?” I asked innocently. I could hear Fareed laughing politely. “That’s the secret sauce,” he chuckled. “In a given space, it produces 350% more power compared to traditional solar systems at one third the cost per kilowatt-hour.”
“Well, Dr. Sfard, I know some people at Ausra, which, of course, was sold last year to Areva. I’m sure I could arrange a conversation, if you’re interested in selling or licensing your technology.”
“That would be possible, though they see us as a threat,” he allowed.
“I would hope they do, sir! That’s a good thing,” I replied. “In my experience, that’s the impetus behind most deals. Until business people are threatened, there’s no motive to deal with the problem,” I replied.
We’ll see where this goes. In the meanwhile, here’s a link to the Ahura listing on OnGreen.com, and to the Ahura Energy website directly.
Interested parties may wish to contact Fareed; if you do, expect to find an extremely bright and charming guy. But don’t expect him to give up the recipe for the sauce.
Perhaps you should have tried to quantify this “breakthrough.” What does the inventor think it will cost per kWh to install and how much can the electricity be sold for?
DOE reports that solar generated electricity will still cost between $.30 and $.45 per kWh by 2016. How about Ahura? What do they suggest?
Without knowing the result it is silly to refer to something as breakthrough. Maybe that’s why nobody believes the solar-hype. It could be.
Yep, Craig, I also am alway sceptical of inventors/promoters of new technology with dramatic ‘breakthrough’ claims of wonderful improvements to existing products.
These scams proliferate in the energy sector. We have all read or heard of the magic oil/petrol additives that the oil companies are suppressing.
The conspiracy theory is the self-deluded and the scamsters best friend.
The question that must be asked is why is the technology so secret, why haven’t the mainstream industry corporations developed similar, and why wouldn’t they be the first prospect for a JV?
Why is the inventor/promoter seeking investment outside the existing industry, without a conclusive report from an independent, recognised facility. (Ann Arbour etc).
Con men are usually charming and very believable. But, so too are the utterly sincere, but self-deluded, promoters of products lacking viability.
The old Maxim, ‘If it seems too good to be true, it usually isn’t!” ,is a very good guideline.