The telescope works like a huge magnifying glass that concentrates sunlight by 1,000 times onto small but highly efficient photovoltaic cells which then turns the light into energy.

This type of technology presents a lot of advantages: it is of a small dimension and has a low environmental impact. The telescope is able to produce a very high volume of electric energy with a reduced land surface which is why it is especially effective in deserts and other regions of the world with direct sunshine such as Arizona.

The significant funding will be used to complete the research and to maximize the efficiency of the telescope.

For more information, please check:  http://www.sfaz.org/