Open Energy Corporation is the exclusive worldwide licensee of an exciting new solar thermal technology that provides tremendous potential to end-customer benefit(s). SunCone™ CSP (Concentrating Solar Power) is the creation of Dr. Melvin Prueitt, renowned physicist and research scientist from the Los Alamos National Laboratory. SunCone™ CSP utilizes non-imaging optical cones made of reflective composites to concentrate sunlight on rods at the base of each cone. The cones stay cool, but the fluid flowing through the base is superheated, generating steam to drive a turbine and produce electricity. This same superheated fluid can be combined with reverse osmosis membranes or flash distillation equipment to produce fresh water from salt or brackish sources.

Dr. Prueitt is also one of the early pioneers in 3-D computer graphics. Below is his initial conception of SunCone™ CSP.

Open Energy Corporation believes that SUNCONE™ CSP has the potential to be less expensive to build, operate, and maintain than competitive parabolic trough or dish power systems. The company has enlisted Hytec Engineering, an award-winning firm based in Los Alamos, New Mexico, to build the first full-scale, operational SUNCONE™ prototype. Initial testing of this prototype was successful and Open Energy Corporations is rapidly moving forward to engineer a commercial product.  We believe market opportunities for the technology are very promising. 

A single SUNCONE™ array coupled with battery storage could power a remote village or island resort. A second array could produce potable water from the sea. According to the United Nations, over 1.2 billion people currently lack access to fresh water or reliable power. The opportunities for Open Energy Corporation to team with international organizations and assist in global development initiatives would be very much in alignment with our mission and vision for the company. 

Large scale industrial applications for this technology are equally feasible. SunCone™ arrays could provide sunny regions of the world with large scale, carbon-free alternatives to coal or gas fired power plants. The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced its intention to expand concentrating solar power by 1,000 megawatts. Viable target markets for the systems also exist in China, India, Southern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa.