News

Heliostat Consortium Publishes Annual Report Highlighting Impactful Technical Projects, Opens Second RFP

The Heliostat Consortium (HelioCon) announced publication of the HelioCon Annual Report: 2023, which provides detailed information on progress the HelioCon team has made since its founding, including developing impactful technical projects; expanding the number of partnerships with industry, research, education, and other institutions; increasing staff size; providing information to a growing audience through its web presence; and participating in national and international conferences with industry leaders. HelioCon also announced the opening of a new request for proposals (RFP) focused on lowering the costs of heliostat technologies, improving performance, and creating new heliostat industry opportunities. Read the full news release.

Featured Researcher

Dr. Kenneth Armijo (NSTTF)

Dr. Kenneth Armijo is a system engineering staff member who leads molten salt and molten alkali metals R&D at the National Solar Thermal Test Facility (NSTTF). His research interests are in alternative energy technologies and sustainability, as they pertain to scientific and technological innovation, business and policy. Dr. Armijo holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley with minors in Energy and Resources, and business credentials in Management of Technology (MOT) from Berkeley's Haas School of Business. Dr. Armijo’s research in concentrating solar power (CSP) and nuclear energy (NE) consists of system design for high-temperature (>720 °C) thermodynamic and commercial R&D systems, employing nitrate, chloride and fluoride molten salts and alkali metals (sodium) as the heat transfer fluid. He currently is the PI for multiple U.S. DOE projects, including the DOE Advanced Salt Valve project, and is the DOE Heliocon Components & controls Lead for the development of wireless and closed-loop controls technologies for advanced CSP/CST heliostats and field deployments. His thermal-fluids molten salt work has been in collaboration between CSP and Nuclear Energy industrial partners. His research has also consisted of falling particles for centralized concentrating solar receivers. He also leads research activities pertaining to solar Stirling Engine applications as well as for solar reactor R&D and high-flux materials characterization. Dr. Armijo also serves as a lead Test Director for high-temperature materials research for power towers and solar furnace investigations.
kmarmijo@sandia.gov

Recent Publications:
2024, Pena-Lapuente, A., Armijo, K.M., et al., “SolarPACES Task III Project: Analyze Heliostat Field Project Conclusions, Results of a Qualitative Comparison of Solar Field Evaluation Methodologies and Next Steps to Further Improve the Solar Central Receiver Technology,” SolarPACES 2024 Task III Report. 

2023, Armijo, K.M., Overacker, A., Madden, D., Parish, J., Nelson, M., Radman, I. Brumback, K., and Kruizenga, A., “Experimental Operation of a Prototype 750C Advanced Chloride Molten Salt Bellows Valve,” 27th SolarPACES Conference, Sydney, Australia.

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