Pratt & Whitney company Rocketdyne has been awarded $2.3m by the US Department of Defense to build a 200kW concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) system at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
The project is aimed at demonstrating the performance and cost-effectiveness of CPV technology for use at military facilities.
Ultimately the goal will be to develop the technology for use in large utility and industrial applications.
The array will include 12 commercial-scale duel axis CPV units, tracking the sun's movements for optimum efficiency.
Each unit will contain around 60 square metres of CPV modules, which will be manufactured by venture capital-backed innovator Semprius.
Neeta Patel, director of energy systems at Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, said, 'We're honoured the Department of Defense has chosen Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne to further demonstrate this revolutionary technology, which provides clean energy and shines a light on greater energy independence and energy security.'