The Hindu Business Line : Clique, IIT-Mumbai develop solar concentrator

"It is the first time in India that we have achieved up to 200 degree heat generation using solar energy," said Mr Shireesh Kedare, Director, Clique Developments, and Adjunct Associate Professor, IIT-Mumbai.

Called ARUN, the fully automated solar concentrator is a 160 sq m single parabolic dish that can store heat for day and night applications. It gives an output of up to 80 KW and can be integrated with various industrial processes. A smaller model of the same has a 70 sq m dish and gives an output of up to 35 KW.

Alternative to fuels

Claimed to be an alternative to oil-based fuels for industrial heating, ARUN can cut usage of conventional fuels for heating by up to 20 per cent, said Mr Kedare. This is pollution free and can earn carbon credits for organisations that implement it. Clique Developments provides renewable energy devices and systems for industrial use.

After five years of research, the dish was commercially tested at Mahanand Dairy, Latur, for milk pasteurisation in February. Today 30,000 litres of milk per day are being processed at the dairy.

`Talks with industries'

"We are in talks with 15 industrial clients for this system," said Mr Kedare. Industries such as food processing, chemical engineering, boiler-based businesses, pharmaceuticals, drying ovens and rubber technology can use this heating system in the place of conventional fuels.

Priced between Rs 35 lakh and Rs 40 lakh per dish, ARUN is capable of generating energy for up to 20 years.

The system caters to heating applications besides being combined with photovoltaic cells to generate thermal energy.

Research is on to test the possibilities of electricity generation.

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