Q.  What kind of site is needed for the SolarBeam Concentrator?

A.  Ideally, the SolarBeam should be installed 20 feet from a home or building facing south without trees or obstacles that will shade the unit. If this is not possible distances beyond 20 feet are easily accomplished. In some commercial applications a rooftop installation is possible.

Q.  How long does it take to setup a SolarBeam Concentrator system?

A.  The installation of the SolarBeam is very easy and has been accomplished in 2-3 days.  A post and control unit is installed, followed by a drivetrain, reflective petals and heat exchanger. 

Q.  How does the SolarBeam Concentrator compare to other solar thermal collectors in terms of size?

A.  Due to SolarBeam's innovative design, it requires 98% to 262% less space than conventional flat plate panels or solar evacuated tube units.  Installation is easier because the SolarBeam is a stand alone unit.

Q.  Is the SolarBeam dangerous?

A.  No. The SolarBeam does not use plate glass. SolarBeam has a number of safety controls to prevent overheating and has battery backup in case of power outage.  

Q.  Will SolarBeam harvest heat on cloudy days too?

A.  Like all other solar thermal products SolarBeam's efficiencies are reduced in cloudy conditions; however, a surprising amount of heat can be collected in hazy or partly cloudy days. In addition with the right equipment, heat can be banked for cloudy days or night time use.

Q.  How long will it take to see a return on investment.

A.  Return on investment ( R.O.I) is estimated based on what you spend (or would be spending as in the case of new construction) for heat and the direct solar irradiance in your area. (Note) We take a practical straightforward approach when estimating R.O.I. However, there are monetary gains not factored in such as: Savings due to rising energy costs; patronage (if a business) due to your eco friendly business practices; Increase in property value, typically with no tax increase; Reduction of carbon foot print; And free energy after your R.O.I. period etc..

Q.  Can solar beam be fitted with a P.V. module for making electricity?

A.   Yes. Prototypes are currently being tested and will soon be available. Current estimates are 4kw of electricity while still producing 6kw of heat at peak.

Q.  How much does SolarBeam cost?

A.  Contact us for current pricing.

Q.  Will I have to monitor SolarBeam?

A.  No. SolarBeam does not need constant monitoring after the install. A few minor checks may be needed a few days after the install and a subsequent lubrication and inspection may be necessary in the years that follow.

Q.  How does SolarBeam compare to geo thermal for space heating?

A.  As with geo thermal SolarBeam requires a backup heating system. In geo thermal they are internal and are primarily for sub zero temperatures .With SolarBeam it is external, such as a high efficiency boiler, and is for use on days with heavy clouds or long periods with no sun. Geo thermal installers often claim efficiencies of two to three hundred percent or more. Surprisingly this statement is often true. That is to say, at times one could get up to three times more in heat energy than is being consumed in electricity. When SolarBeam uses the same formula however consuming 20 to 80 watts during tracking and producing 13000 watts average peak this would mean that SolarBeam is over 15000 percent efficient. Amazing, but true! The comparisons are really apples to oranges, however, and would soon over shadow the more valuable fact that both have there place in the eco friendly products market. Our product can be married to or used in conjunction with geo thermal to build a 'combi', or hybrid, system.