Frequently Asked Questions

What does Skyline Solar do?
Skyline manufactures patented High Gain Solar (HGS) arrays for the commercial, industrial and utility scale solar industries.

What have you announced?
Skyline has announced the company, its investors and funding from the Department of Energy, its HGS architecture and the completion of a demonstration solar power plant. The company will provide more detailed specifications and pricing on its product later in 2009.

Are HGS systems designed for the residential market?
No. HGS systems are designed for large ground mount solar applications from 50-100 kilowatts up into the many megawatts.

What is HGS?
HGS combines a series of system level design attributes which drive lower installed cost and higher energy yield relative to traditional fixed tilt PV panels. As the solar industry matures customers value energy yield and cost more than peak “nameplate” rating.  The movement to HGS started with the adoption of high efficiency monocrystalline silicon cells and tracking technology to increase energy yield and now includes a series of other improvements including the use of concentration with reflective materials which reduces the amount of silicon required by ninety percent, lower cost panel designs, convection cooling, better string & shadow management, streamlined installation and maintenance. Systems which combine one or more of these attributes are considered to be driving higher gain.

Are there other companies that manufacture HGS systems?
Yes, there are many examples of companies building HGS systems based on the design attributes above. For example, there are a number of companies who build single axis tracked flat plate systems with pre-manufactured racks and mounting systems designed to streamline installation.

What makes Skyline’s approach unique?
Skyline’s patented HGS architecture is unique in terms of completeness of solution and performance.

Completeness of Solution: Skyline combines at least a dozen different high gain attributes into a total systems solution. It leverages high gain opportunities at every step of the life cycle from materials to manufacturing, shipping, installation, operations and maintenance and end of life recyclability. The main parts of the solution are the HGS array and panel, reflective rack, tracking and mounting hardware and optional remote monitoring.

Performance: Skyline’s solution drives ten times more energy per gram of silicon and provides similar energy density and output to industry leading single axis tracked silicon PV systems.

How does Skyline achieve 10X the energy out of a gram of silicon?
Skyline achieves 10X the energy out of a gram of silicon through tracking and concentration. Tracking provides 30% gain and concentration does the rest relative to fixed tilt silicon PV. Concentration is enabled by the use of reflective materials to replace most of the silicon cells and a novel convection cooling system on the back each HGS panel.

Can you tell me what the performance is for each array and how many acres are required per megawatt?
Skyline will provide more detailed technical information when it announces its first product later in 2009. Energy density is similar to leading single axis tracked silicon PV systems.

What is the status on Skyline’s HGS products? Are Skyline HGS Arrays available for installation today?
Skyline has been testing its systems in the field generating power since early 2008. The company recently completed the installation of a grid connected demonstration plant for a government customer in San Jose, California. The company is negotiating contracts with partners and end customers today for installations starting in the second half of 2009.

Who are Skyline Solar’s customers?
Skyline is working with developers and installers of grid-connected utility, industrial and commercial systems. Target end customers include commercial, industrial, education, government and utility customers in sunny climates. Ideal locations include California, the US Southwest, Southern Europe, the Middle East, Africa and parts of Asia.

How much power can a Skyline Solar plant produce?
Skyline’s HGS architecture is ideally suited for systems ranging from 50-100 kilowatts up through many megawatts. There’s no fundamental limit on how large the plants can be.

How much do Skyline HGS systems cost and what’s the warranty?
More information on pricing and warranty will be released when the company announces the details of its HGS products. HGS systems utilize well know and certified industry materials like silicon and will support standard industry warranty terms for solar electric systems. The Skyline HGS product has passed rigorous internal pre-qualifications tests and has started certification processes with third party certification laboratories.