Industrial sites, particularly those in heat-intensive industries like food production, need both electricity and high-temperature heat to power their processes. However, conventional solar technologies only deliver electricity, while fossil fuel-fired boilers increase operational costs and emissions.
Skyven set out to change that by developing a high-concentration photovoltaic and thermal (HCPVT) system designed to deliver low-cost industrial heat and electricity to manufacturers. Although we no longer provide solar thermal or HCPVT solutions, the lessons from this research and development (R&D) project continue to guide our work today.
A Cutting-Edge Technology Pilot
The HCPVT pilot integrated Skyven’s proprietary Intelligent Mirror Array (IMA) solar collector with other advanced components, capturing and upgrading heat from the sun to generate both heat and electricity. Although Skyven no longer deploys solar thermal systems, this R&D work shaped who we are today: a thermal energy partner helping manufacturers cut costs and emissions.
Developing and deploying this project taught us what it takes to implement innovative decarbonization technologies at manufacturing facilities. We spoke with hundred of manufacturers to understand their needs, collaborated with vendors to build a robust supply chain, and performed rigorous reliability testing under the California sun. These lessons in integration, durability, and real-world deployment continue to guide us today.
Shaping Skyven’s Future
While Skyven has moved beyond solar thermal, the insights from our research and development work live on. They directly shaped the design of our Arcturus steam-generating heat pump, now driving industrial decarbonization at scale.
Read the full case study here: Case Study: Legacy Insights
