SolMate

What it does

SolMate is a compact, small-scale Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) system designed to solve the intermittency of traditional solar solutions by using mirrors and thermal storage to deliver reliable, high-efficiency energy—even after sunset or in cloudy weather.

Your inspiration

Rising electricity costs, frequent blackouts, and dependence on fossil fuels have made energy access a major challenge, especially for small businesses and facilities in the Philippines. While solar PV adoption is growing, it remains limited by high temperatures, space requirements, and costly storage. Inspired by these gaps, we developed SolMate—a small-scale Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) system that offers a compact, efficient, and storage-integrated alternative. SolMate delivers continuous, reliable energy even after sunset, helping users reduce costs, gain energy independence, and transition to cleaner power.

How it works

SolMate is a compact solar energy system that uses mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto a central receiver. This receiver heats a special thermal fluid—molten salt—which stores the energy as heat. The stored heat is then used to power a small turbine that generates electricity, even when the sun isn’t shining. The system includes 24 mirrors that track the sun’s movement throughout the day, maximizing the amount of sunlight captured. Two insulated tanks store the hot fluid, allowing the system to supply energy for up to 4 hours after sunset. A smart control system monitors performance and ensures efficient operation. With an 8m x 8m footprint, SolMate is ideal for buildings with limited space, offering a cleaner, more reliable energy source than traditional panels. It is easy to install, requires minimal maintenance, and can be monitored remotely through a mobile app.

Design process

Our small-scale Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) system, SolMate, was inspired by the growing need to lower rising electricity costs. After completing thorough market feasibility studies, technical assessments, and financial analyses based on changing investments and market conditions, we are currently in the prototyping phase. The prototype uses a small, efficient circuit system with a switch to control the flow between two water tanks—one representing hot water and the other cold—demonstrating how thermal energy is stored and transferred. Sunlight is focused by 24 heliostat mirrors onto a central receiver, heating molten salt stored in two tanks for hot and cold thermal storage. This stored heat drives a turbine that generates electricity, allowing power production even when sunlight is not available. We faced challenges ensuring the water circulation system worked smoothly within the prototype, but we prioritized making the design compact and customer-friendly. SolMate’s innovative thermal storage and compact footprint offer a reliable, cost-effective, and cleaner energy alternative for small commercial and residential users.

How it is different

SolMate is unique because it miniaturizes advanced Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technology into a compact system for homes and small businesses. Unlike large CSP plants, SolMate fits within an 8m × 8m footprint using 24 dual-axis tracking mirrors that precisely focus sunlight on a central receiver. It features 40 kWh molten salt thermal storage, allowing energy use even without sunlight—addressing a major solar limitation. Its power conversion uses an efficient Organic Rankine Cycle turbine, unlike traditional steam turbines. The system also integrates IoT-enabled smart controls for remote monitoring, a feature rare in small-scale CSP. Our patent search confirmed no existing product combines this scale, storage, tracking, conversion, and smart control, making SolMate ideal for urban and space-limited settings needing reliable clean energy.

Future plans

We will refine the prototype to enhance efficiency and reliability, focusing on thermal storage and water circulation. Extensive field testing will validate real-world performance. We will secure legal approvals with local governments and register the product trademark to protect our brand. Meanwhile, we’ll locate and build a manufacturing facility, procure and install equipment, and hire staff to scale production. Our goal is to commercialize SolMate soon, offering affordable, reliable clean energy solutions to homes and small businesses, helping reduce electricity costs and promote sustainability.

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