Commercialization of a Non-Intrusive Optical (NIO) Technology to Measure Heliostat Optical Errors in Utility-Scale Concentrating Solar Power Plants: Final TCF Report

The drone-based Non-Intrusive Optical (NIO) Technology has been developed at NREL to allow for efficient and automated optical characterization of heliostats in Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plants. For this project, the technology will be developed into a commercial tool package, including software and user-interface (UI), operations manual, and training and support services. The project team will partner with Tietronix to perform market assessment and stakeholder engagement, develop the tool package and business model, and perform data collection and analysis to demonstrate and refine the capabilities for use at a commercial plant. The team will collaborate with a commercial plant to conduct the data collection operations and provide optical error deliverables. The goal of the project is to advance the commercialization of the technology to a stage where a beta version can be demonstrated at additional commercial plants and developed into a licensable product.. Authors: Mitchell, Rebecca [National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)] (ORCID:0000000253257737); Davis, Milo [National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)]; Rosales, Miguel [Tietronix Software, Houston, TX (United States)]; Sperber, Kyle [National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)]; Izygon, Michel [Tietronix Software, Houston, TX (United States)]. DOE Contract: AC36-08GO28308. Subjects: 14 SOLAR ENERGY; drone; heliostat; metrology; NIO; optics