Newest SolarTAC Member Demonstrates Revolutionary Direct Steam Generation From Solar Power

Hittite Solar Energy’s Concentrated Solar Power System is Successful in Trial

(Aurora, Co) August 15, 2012 – MRIGlobal is proud to announce successful direct solar-powered steam generation at the Solar Technology Acceleration Center (SolarTAC).

SolarTAC’s newest member, Hittite Solar Energy, based in Istanbul, Turkey, is successfully producing steam while demonstrating its patented Concentrated Solar Power Parabolic Trough technology. Hittite Solar became a member of SolarTAC in December 2011.

“Our system has proven to operate successfully,” said R. Oguz Capan, Chairman and Chief Technology Officer, Hittite Solar Energy. “We are very excited to add to the innovations taking place at SolarTAC.”

MRIGlobal manages and operates SolarTAC, the nation’s largest test facility for solar technologies. SolarTAC’s 74-acre site allows members to research, demonstrate, test, and validate a broad range of solar technologies

“We are very happy to welcome Hittite Solar to our membership,” said Dustin Smith, SolarTAC Executive Director. “We share their enthusiasm in the quick and successful testing of their technology.”

Hittite Solar’s patented technology uses a system of focusing the sun’s energy and generating super-heated and high-pressured steam directly from water.

Hittite Solar employs a unique trough design, allowing for a fixed fluid transfer pipe with mirror that follows the sun. This feature provides greater heat temperatures and steam pressure and requires less maintenance. The design allows for further innovations in heat storage and water treatment technologies.

About SolarTAC
Managed and operated by MRIGlobal, SolarTAC is an integrated, world-class test facility where members can research, test, validate, and demonstrate solar technologies under actual field conditions.

SolarTAC’s current members are Xcel Energy, Abengoa Solar, SunEdison, Amonix, the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Electric Power Research Institute, and Hittite Solar Energy.

For more information, visit www.solartac.org.

About MRIGlobal
MRIGlobal, a not-for-profit research and development organization, delivers global solutions in national security and defense, energy and environment, life and animal sciences, agriculture and food safety, and transportation. The organization performs scientific research, advanced engineering and program integration and management for clients in government, industry and academia.  Established in 1944 as Midwest Research Institute, MRIGlobal is based in Kansas City, Mo., operates in nine states and Washington, D.C., and manages more than 3,300 employees.

MRIGlobal is one of two partners in the Alliance for Sustainable Energy LLC, which manages and operates the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colo., for the U.S. Department of Energy.

For more information, visit www.mriglobal.org.

About Hittite Solar Energy:
Hittite Solar Energy is a leading innovator in three important areas of sustainability: Concentrated Solar Power, water treatment, and heat storage. Hittite’s unique, patented parabolic trough design is the first proven system capable of Direct Steam Generation.

For more information, visit www.hittitesolarenergy.com.