AIP Conf. Proc. 1734, 020016 (2016)
Paul Mathaha , Anadola Tsiu, B. M. Taele National University of Lesotho, P.O. Box 180, Roma, Lesotho, South Africa
Matthew Orosz,Tamer Teker, Jordan Stephens and Amy Mueller , STG International, P.O. Box 426152, Cambridge, MA, 02142 USA
Lengeta Mabea, Appropriate Technology Services, Ministry of Science, Communication and Technology, Government of Lesotho P.O. Box 36, Maseru 100, Lesotho, South Africa
Marcel Ntee, Makoanyane Khakanyo, STG Lesotho, P.O. Box 36, Maseru 100, Lesotho, South Africa
Concentrating Solar Power is expanding its deployment on the African subcontinent, highlighting the importance of efforts to indigenize manufacturing of this technology to increase local content and therefore local economic benefits of these projects. In this study a design for manufacturing (DFM) exercise was conducted to create a locally produced parabolic trough collector (the G4 PTC). All parts were sourced or fabricated at a production facility in Lesotho, and several examples of the design were prototyped and tested with collaborators in the Government of Lesotho’s Appropriate Technology Services division and the National University of Lesotho. Optical and thermal performance was simulated and experimentally validated, and pedagogical pre-commercial versions of the PTC have been distributed to higher education partners in Lesotho and Europe. The cost to produce the PTC is 180 USD/m2 for a locally manufactured heat collection element (HCE) capable of sustaining 250C operation at ~65% efficiency. A version with an imported evacuated HCE can operate at 300°C with 70% efficiency. Economically relevant applications for this locally produced PTC include industrial process heat and distributed generation scenarios where cogeneration is required.