2017 76West winner Skyven ships first solar array

Dallas, Texas–based Skyven Technologies, the 2017 winner of the 76West competition, has completed the first shipment of what the company calls an intelligent mirror array.

The product was manufactured in Horseheads and described as “one of the world’s first solar solutions for industrial steam,” the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) said in a July 30 news release.

Skyven, has been working with Cameron Manufacturing & Design in Horseheads to finalize the technology and manufacturing specifications. The first order of panels has been completed, according to NYSERDA. 

Skyven is also working with the Radiant Store, based in Troy, to install the system at Copses Farms in Valley Falls in Rensselaer County. “Due in part” to Skyven’s technology order, Cameron has expanded its operations, the authority said. 

Skyven works with its customer to reduce its carbon footprint and save it money, Arun Gupta, founder and CEO of Skyven, contended in the NYSERDA release.

“We’re extremely happy to see our first commercial production and deployment take place in upstate New York and look forward to continuing our work with our partners in the Southern Tier to install many more systems throughout the state,” said Gupta.

Cameron is “always looking” for growth opportunities and partners, as the firm has been “manufacturing the future” since 1983, Michael Chevalier, account executive at Cameron Manufacturing & Design, said in the release. 

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Skyven Technologies on their unique renewable system that will reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and provide a healthier environment for industrial buildings,” said Chevalier. 

“This is ground-breaking technology that focuses on a market that is currently under-served. This system has a lot of potential to create opportunities for both manufacturers and installers and I look forward to helping Skyven integrate its technology in New York State,” Terry Moag, owner of the Radiant Store, added.

Skyven says its mirror-array technology is a “unique,” renewable product for industrial steam that a customer can use to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions from industrial boilers. It uses panels — which are similar to solar panels — that magnify the sun’s heat by concentrating sunlight, which can then be used to provide energy to industrial buildings at reduced costs.

Skyven Technologies captured the $1 million grand prize in last year’s 76West competition in Binghamton. 

As a condition of the award, companies must either move to the Southern Tier or establish a direct connection with the Southern Tier, like a supply chain, job development with Southern Tier companies, or other “strategic” relationships with Southern Tier entities that increase wealth creation and create jobs, according to NYSERDA.