San Jose, California

Skyline completed its first grid-connected solar system in San Jose, California in May, 2009. (See more recent projects here.)

The system provides power for a transportation maintenance facility serving more than a million residents of Santa Clara County. It demonstrates key aspects of Skyline's architecture, including long reflective racks with single-axis tracking, compact silicon PV panels and efficient convection cooling.

Time lapse video of the system tracking the sun

Looking across one array tilted toward the sun. The cooling fins in the lower part of the picture appear larger than they really are because of foreshortening.

The bright white line running along the panels is the "flux line" where concentrated light is being converted to electricity. Skyline's new X14 System produces a broader, brighter, more concentrated flux line.

Large metal cooling fins (center of photo) passively cool the silicon panels to improve performance.

Four rows of Skyline's first generation arrays

"Skyline's High Gain Solar architecture impressed us with its attractive modular design, quick installation and focus on high energy output."

Michael Hursh
Deputy Director
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority