SUNCATCH LTD. — Department of Agriculture SBIR Phase I: 8.119999999999999

Description

Heat and hot water are essential for the agricultural sector especially for dairy farms.Hot water on the farms is generally produced by water heaters that use either fuel oil natural orpropane gas or electricity.The best way the agricultural sector can lower costs and reduce the environmental footprint ofthe farm is through energy efficiency and by utilizing on-farm renewable energy sources.Most farms and ranches have open sunny locations that are well-suited to solar energy systems.SunCatch Ltd is proposing to develop a self-sufficient concentrated solar-thermal system up to80% of efficiency capable of generating enough thermal energy to cover up to 100% of the hotwater needs of the small and mid-size farms. A cost-effective approach by utilizing innovativecustom-engineered frame and collector distinct components and efficient heat accumulator tostore thermal energy will make the manufacturing operating and ownership cost of our systemup to three times lower than other CST available on the market.SunCatch Ltd is targeting the residential market including the agricultural sector of small andmid-size farms. There are a variety of applications for thermal energy systems in rural areas andon the farms: heating dwellings livestock buildings and greenhouses dry crops cleaning usehot water in dairy operations etc. Providing a cost-effective and efficient source of renewableclean energy to this market we anticipate to make a positive impact on the sustainability andprofitability of the farms and so on the economy of the rural areas overall.