Title: Technology transfer: solar power and distributed rural electrification

Authors: Stephen W. Jordan; Tugrul U. Daim

Addresses: Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, Oregon, USA ' Department of Engineering and Technology Management, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, USA

Abstract: The research objective is to assess and transfer high efficiency multi-junction photovoltaic cell technology developed at the National Renewable Energy Lab to a start-up venture. The technology integrates a rooftop satellite-dish sized reflector that tracks and concentrates solar energy onto the target cell. There are still rural communities in the world where there are no medium to large electrical energy transmission systems. Electrical transmission system development depends on whether the local economy is developing or industrialised. Total world electrical energy usage today is 18 TW-hr (1 TW-hr = 1012 Whr) and forecasted to rise to 30 TWhr by 2030.

Keywords: multi-junction cells; solar tracking systems; concentrated power; solar power; rural electrification; technology transfer; distributed electrification; photovoltaic cells; high efficiency cells; National Renewable Energy Laboratory; NREL; Colorado; United States; USA; start-up ventures; rooftop reflectors; satellite-dishes; target cells; rural communities; electrical energy; transmission systems; R&D; research and development; electricity transmission; local economy; developing economies; industrialised economies; energy usage; policy; management; solar energy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTPM.2012.046929

International Journal of Technology, Policy and Management, 2012 Vol.12 No.2/3, pp.244 - 262

Published online: 31 Dec 2014 *

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