Charles Shults' Fresnel Solar Design

Charles Shults III combines solar hot water panels with a large fresnel lens to flash the hot water to steam, which runs a turbine to generate 6 kW of electricity, with hot water left over, which is recycled through the system. The system is expected to cost around $6,000 - $8,000 USD (targeting $1/Watt), with an ROI of 3-5 years. Shults is in process of commercializing the system, with expected roll-out between Q2, 2008 and Q1, 2009. The concept is simple enough, and the components ubiquitous enough, that a competent do-it-yourselfer could construct one for himself.

"This is going to make solar affordable for everyone." -- Charles Shults III

On the down side, Dr. Richard P. George, NEC, points out that the regulations on steam generator systems will make this take much more time, require much more engineering, exact far more legal expenses, and require far more testing and proving than what Shults might anticipate. (See his comments, along with Shults' rebuttal.) But as a DIY project, such commercialization prerequisites are irrelevant.

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