San Francisco, CA - Sopogy, today introduced the new SopoNova 4, combining the revolutionary features of its MicroCSP Parabolic Trough technology that includes modularity, customized tracking, efficient shipping, storm protection, and automatic operation.

SopoNova 4 is currently available in the United States and through select distributors internationally.

"Since 2002, Sopogy has been inventing, testing and validating our unique MicroCSP technologies. SopoNova 4 marks our 40th version of technology improvement. We've learned many valuable lessons through our six years of research and development and incorporated those lessons into our most efficient and lowest cost product yet. In SopoNova 4 we've incorporated form and function with a visually appealing yet robust and cost effective concentrating solar collector." Said Darren T. Kimura, President & CEO of Sopogy.

MicroCSP systems use reflectors and optics that harness the energy from the sun to create heat that passes through a turbine to produce electricity. The Sopogy MicroCSP solar collector system is a robust and elegant concentrating panel that was modeled after the very successful installation of concentrating panels in the Mojave Desert in the mid 1980's.

SopoNova 4 features the unique ability to bring the efficiencies and cost of large parabolic trough technologies into a small and light-weight package enabling installation in ground or on rooftops. The heat generated by the concentrator can be used to power turbines to create electricity or used directly for industrial process heating and solar cooling. The technology captures cost efficiencies by operating in lower temperatures which enable general contractor installation, low cost thermal energy storage and is facility safe.

Frequently Asked Questions
Key Points about SopoNova 4:
• Based on the reliable and proven Concentrating Parabolic Trough Design
• Unassembled it ships flat providing transportation cost savings
• Strong and weatherproofed design with elegant look and feel
• World's first 270 degree MicroCSP tracker with stow
• Integrated stands, tracker and controls for easy operation and installation
• Installable by local contractors
• Sized for 250kw to 20 megawatts of power

Differences between SopoNova 4 and previous versions
• Sopogy is focused on lowering the first cost of the solar solution.
• 2.0 installed at the Natural Energy Laboratories in 2005. A rugged, strong parabolic trough collector.
• 3.0 installed at Avista Utilities in 2006. Same basic shape, 3.0 used less material than 2.0 which led to cost savings.
• Both 2.0 and 3.0 were built around light fixture manufacturing equipment. While this enabled cost savings and high speed processing, the limitations included length and material thickness.
• 4.0 is a revolutionary new design using off the shelf rails and pre-fabricated arms. This allowed us to go away from light fixture manufacturing and into a new, longer collector. A longer collector translated into lower project costs. This manufacturing shift also allowed us to use new materials that improve efficiency.

About Sopogy
Sopogy specializes in MicroCSP solar technologies that bring the economics of large solar energy systems to the industrial, commercial and utility sectors in a smaller, robust and more cost effective package. Please visit www.sopogy.com for more information.