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New Solar Hybrid Product Successful in Field Tests

By Stephen Lacey, RenewableEnergyAccess.com
September 1, 2006 | 10 Comments

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Peterborough, New Hampshire [RenewableEnergyAccess.com] Hybrid Solar Lighting, a new product developed by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), is being tested in five locations around the U.S. with another 20 test sites planned for the coming months.

"We've received a very favorable response from a number of organizations from New York to California who are field testing this product."

- Melissa Lapsa, ORNL Solar Technologies Manager, speaking on RenewableEnergyAccess.com's Inside Renewable Energy podcast.

"We've received a very favorable response from a number of organizations from New York to California who are field testing this product," said Melissa Lapsa, ORNL Solar Technologies Manager, speaking on RenewableEnergyAccess.com's Inside Renewable Energy podcast.

Hybrid Solar Lighting is designed to work in tandem with existing lighting systems in large retail stores, offices, and schools. The initial cost for a system is $24,000, but the price will go down in the future as the product moves out of the testing phase. At the conclusion of the beta field tests, ORNL will be publishing a report on Hybrid Solar Lighting for the Department of Energy.

Retail stores are interested in the product because they believe the natural lighting will increase sales. Schools and offices like the product because of its potential to increase productivity and lower energy costs.

Want to learn more about how this product works? Check out this week's episode of Inside Renewable Energy at the link below. Also in the cast: Vote Solar Initiative's Co-Founder Adam Browning talks about activism in the solar industry.

Additional Information

RenewableEnergyAccess.com's Inside Renewable Energy

Solar Energy

10 Reader Comments

Comment
1 of 10

jason-tweedie-55475

September 1, 2006

who would i contact about getting this product on trial for a large scale project in New Zealand, if you could put me in contact would be greatly appriciated
thanks
jason tweedie

Comment
2 of 10

gone-solar-54902

September 1, 2006

Great idea! $24,000 for this system, not counting installation and labor charges... The 30% federal tax credit is great, but there are no passive solar rebates or incentives available for this product, which means state, non-profits and gov applications will be a tough sell at full dollar, and lower than consumer electric charges.
Or, Am I wrong about rebates or incentives??

Comment
3 of 10

glenn-andersen-47991

September 2, 2006

Sorry Jason, looks like this web site does not allow putting company web sites on the discussion forum, as that is considered promotional. I guess.
Try going to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory web site, and enter "Hybrid Solar Lighting" in the search engine on their web page. Keep following the links until you get where you want to get. Hope it works for you. - Glenn

Comment
4 of 10

glenn-andersen-47991

September 2, 2006

Hi Jason. This is what I could find out. Dr. Duncan Earl, an employee of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has started a company to manufacture and test the Hybrid Solar Lighting. So far, it is the only company making the product, according to the ORNL website. The company can be found on the internet at <www.sunlight-direct.com> . Clicking on "contact us", there were lots of ways to contact the company mentioned. Hope this has been helpful. - Glenn Andersen

Comment
5 of 10

jason-tweedie-55475

September 6, 2006

thanks glen for the comments, will lokk into it now and get back to you. thanks.

jason

Comment
6 of 10

SWM999

September 6, 2006

Isn't the other reason this is better than skylights that skylights only work on the top floor? In northern climes skylights let in both heat and cold (especially at night) - sometimes thats good and sometimes not so good.

I'd have thought that this system lets in heat associated with the light, unless it somehow filters out the infra-red. Does anyone know whether it does? It would be great, if you could turn such a filter on or off, depending on the outside temperature.

Comment
7 of 10

paul-wilkins-3795

September 6, 2006

The reason it may be better than skylights is skylights let a lot of heat in.

Comment
8 of 10

Fanady

September 6, 2006

Um, besides the 30% tax credit, why is this better than skylights?

Comment
9 of 10

rick-schwerdtfeger-41165

September 7, 2006

Many fiber optic materials do not transmit IR very well, so heat probably is not being transmitted in this application.

Comment
10 of 10

michael-taylor-48754

September 13, 2006

soon it will be affordable to go solar and i am very happy. what about lineing the light shaft that is framed in by the carpenter (the space between actual glass and celing where the drywall is) with solar cells? no roof penitrations and no need to protect the solar cells from the weather .

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Stephen Lacey

About: I am a reporter with ClimateProgress.org, a blog published by the Center for American Progress. I am former editor and producer for RenewableEnergyWorld.com, wh... more »