Konica Minolta Showcases Newly Developed, Highly Durable Film Mirror for CSP
at World Future Energy Summit as Reference Exhibit
Tokyo (January 16, 2012) – Konica Minolta Opto, Inc. (Konica Minolta) announced today that the company is showcasing its newly developed film mirror for Concentrated Solar Power generation (CSP) as reference exhibit in the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization's (NEDO) and Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East's booths at the World Future Energy Summit 2012 (WFES), the world's foremost annual conference and exhibition for next-generation energy innovations and clean technologies, held from January 16 to 19, 2012 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates.
Prototype of the Newly Developed Film Mirror
(approx. 1.3m width)
Among worldwide initiatives toward the reduction of carbon dioxide emission, renewable energies have especially drawn increasing attention. Using mirrors to concentrate sunlight and converting it to heat by which turbines are driven to generate power, CSP has strong benefits in high energy efficiency and superb connectivity to existing fossil-fuel power station facilities and has become one of the most promising power-generating technologies.
The performance of mirrors that directly receive and reflect sunlight is important in CSP. As the system is built and stays outdoors for a long period of time, mirrors must have a high durability against deterioration of materials or scratches and soils by sandstorms, among others.
Utilizing its proprietary technologies to resolve those challenges, Konica Minolta has driven development of film mirror with higher reflectivity and superior durability than existing ones. The company is proud to exhibit the newly developed film mirror for the first time at the WFES.
<Features and Benefits>
1. High tolerance against scratches by sand
◆Sand blast test result (glass beads #1000, tilt angle at 60 degrees, blast speed at 20m/sec, blast for 15 seconds)
A surface damaged by the blast looks white because of scattered light. Konica Minolta's new mirror film remains dark because it keeps the surface smooth against the blast. (The white fine particles are not damages from the blast but additives inside the base film.)
2. High durability against UV exposure equivalent up to 20 years
3. Solar-weighted average specular reflectance 94%
4. Lighter in weight, more flexible to shape and easier to handle than conventional glass mirror
Through development of innovative technologies, Konica Minolta continues to create new businesses that contribute to worldwide environment and strives to be a leading company that supports sustainable society globally.