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Muscat - GlassPoint Solar, the leader in solar enhanced oil recovery (EOR), recently took home the prestigious award for 'CSP Technology Innovation for MENA 2015' at the 7th edition of MENASOL, the Middle East & North Africa Solar Conference and Exhibition held in Dubai, UAE. The company was selected from hundreds of nominations for their strides in innovation and cost reduction in the solar power industry. GlassPoint was recognized for its enclosed trough technology, which has proven to overcome the harsh desert operating challenges in the Middle East.
Marwan Chaar, Director of Sales for GlassPoint, expressed, "It's an honor to be recognized for our novel solar thermal design, which brings the solar collectors inside a glasshouse enclosure. The structure creates a zero-wind environment, resulting in significant capital and operating cost savings compared to exposed designs. With thousands of hours of operational data, GlassPoint's enclosed trough technology has successfully performed in high winds and humid environments, exceeding performance expectations even during severe sandstorms. By developing an economical solution to the soiling challenge, GlassPoint is unlocking new opportunities for solar in the region."
GlassPoint partnered with Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) to build the Middle East's first solar EOR project. The pilot system has been operating successfully since late 2012, exceeding all performance targets. During a recent dust and sandstorm, where winds reached 53 km/h (33 mph), the solar field operated without fail, producing the rated amount of steam. The roof-washer fully restored optical performance the following day.
Unlike all other concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies, GlassPoint seals the mirrors and other vulnerable components inside a glasshouse that protects them from high winds, dust and sand. This glasshouse structure enables the use of lightweight, readily available materials that are a small fraction of the cost of those used in exposed systems.
The glasshouse roof is cleaned each night with a proven automated washing unit that eliminates manual cleaning and conserves water. Research shows that soiling can reduce performance by an average of 2.5% per day, demonstrating the need for automated washing in desert environments.
MENASOL is the leading solar conference for the region hosted by CSP Today and PV Insider. GlassPoint's Marwan Chaar also presented on a panel "Operating CSP in Desert Conditions" alongside Shams Power. Other award recipients and speakers included executives from First Solar, NRG Renew, Masdar Institute and Kuwait Oil Company along with leading academics and government agencies throughout the MENA region.
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About GlassPoint Solar
GlassPoint is the leading provider of solar steam generators to the oil and gas industry for applications such as Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR). Oil operators worldwide deploy EOR to boost well productivity by up to 300 percent. By replacing gas-fired steam generation with solar, GlassPoint can reduce EOR gas consumption by up to 80 percent. The gas saved can be redirected to higher value uses such as LNG export, industrial development and power generation. GlassPoint's projects operate in global markets ranging from the Middle East to California.
For more information, visit GlassPoint.com
For media inquiries and image requests, please contact:
Walid Majzoub
TRACCS
Tel: +9714 3672530
Qatar Number: 00974 66134713
TRACCS 24/7 Media Hotline: +97150 9448389
Email: walid.majzoub@traccs.net
© Press Release 2015
