The CERN (Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire), which is located in Geneva (Switzerland) is about to complete the development of Ultra High Vacuum (UHV) collectors. The project is said to be the most prestigious one in the center at the moment. The first pilot plant will be operational by the end of this year in Almussafes (Spain). A different, bigger, plant will be ready in 2008 and will feature an impressive 52,000 square meters, with a production capacity of 10 megawatts per month.

SRB will manage the patent developed by Dr Cristoforo Benvenuti at the CERN. The prototype has been researched for a decade now, and features technical aspects that allow the collector to generate electricity and high and low temperature heat. According to the involved entities’ press release, this technology will have potential use in solar electric thermal plants to produce electricity. Additionally, it can be used in heating and cooling applications for malls and residential areas.

The advantages of these collectors range from a greater energy-conversion efficiency, a lower capital and installation cost and less cleaning needs. According to Mr Francisco Segura Hervás, CEO of SRB, the company "will have the best turnkey project for solar electric thermal plants, in industrial heating... (they will) have no competitors”.