SOLAR  (CONT)

go after markets where (financial) incentives apply, you're not really competing against utility scale" pricing.

Besides planning to make a far smaller product, Infinia's generator will have a different design from those built by Stirling Energy Systems.

Infinia builds what is called "free-piston machines." This relies on changing air pressure to move motor components without having parts rub against each other. That design eliminates the need for lubrication and substantially cuts down on maintenance, Clyde said.

Combined Heat and Power

Infinia has been operating for over 20 years as a supplier of motors to government agencies for space and military applications.
Three years ago, the company reorganized itself to pursue potentially higher growth in the clean energy market, said Clyde. The company was chosen to present at the Cleantech Venture Forum in September and is seeking to raise funds to commercialize the solar Stirling product.

But solar electricity is only one application of the company's Stirling engines, said Clyde.

"With a Stirling engine, the thing that's great about it is that it only requires a heat source. It doesn't care what the heat source is," he said.

In the case of its solar Stirling product, the heat source is the sun. But the company is investigating a range of other applications and smaller models, which could be used to create electricity from biogas, such as methane, or used as on-board generators on tanks or trucks.

Already, Infinia has licensed its design for a combined electricity and home heating unit to manufacturers in Japan, the Netherlands and Germany.

Sized to fit under a kitchen counter, the units will use natural gas to fuel a Stirling engine that makes electricity. The process also creates hot water, which is used in water-based heating systems.

Infinia has individual homes in mind for its Stirling solar-electric products as well.

"I live on about two acres," said Clyde. "I can't wait to be the first on my block with one of these."

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