GlassPoint Solar

File:GlassPoint Amal EOR Project.jpg

File:GlassPoint Amal EOR Steam.jpg

GlassPoint's enclosed trough technology encloses lightweight, trough-shaped mirrors with piping in a standard agricultural greenhouse, concentrating the sun's energy to create steam.{{cite news|last=Helman|first=Christopher|title=Oil from the Sun|url=https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2011/0425/features-glasspoint-greenhouses-green-energy-oil-from-sun.html|work=Forbes|accessdate=15 August 2013}} By using the enclosed trough architecture, GlassPoint claims it can produce emission-free steam for two to three times less than competing concentrated solar power technologies, such as the power tower and linear fresnel.{{cite news|last=Goossens|first=Ehren|title=Chevron Uses Solar-Thermal Steam to Extract OIl in California|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-03/chevron-using-solar-thermal-steam-at-enhanced-oil-recovery-plant.html|accessdate=15 August 2013|work=Bloomberg|date=3 October 2011}} The company is based in New York, New York, with a global presence.

In December 2012, GlassPoint announced $26 million in Series B financing. Investors in the round included Royal Dutch Shell, RockPort Capital, Nth Power and Chrysalix Energy Venture Capital.{{cite web|title=GlassPoint Solar Raises $26M|url=http://www.pehub.com/176909/glasspoint-solar-raises-26m/|publisher=PE Hub|accessdate=15 August 2013|archive-date=19 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121219161231/http://www.pehub.com/176909/glasspoint-solar-raises-26m/|url-status=dead}}

In September 2014, GlassPoint announced $53 million in Series C financing. Investors in the round included Royal Dutch Shell, State General Reserve Fund of Oman, RockPort Capital, Nth Power and Chrysalix Energy Venture Capital.{{cite news| url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-09-08/glasspoint-solar-gets-53-million-financing-led-by-shell-oman | work=Bloomberg | first=Justin | last=Doom | title=Glasspoint Gets $53 Mln Financing Led by Shell, Oman | date=8 September 2014}}

It was announced that GlassPoint was to be liquidated in May 2020, the company citing low and unpredictable oil and gas prices for the decision.{{Cite web|title=GlassPoint Solar liquidated after oil and gas slump; India unveils low-cost parabolic troughs {{!}} New Energy Update|url=https://newenergyupdate.com/csp-today/glasspoint-solar-liquidated-after-oil-and-gas-slump-india-unveils-low-cost-parabolic|access-date=2020-06-25|website=newenergyupdate.com}}{{Cite web|date=2020-05-27|title=Shareholders force Glasspoint into liquidation|url=https://www.solarthermalworld.org/news/shareholders-force-glasspoint-liquidation|access-date=2020-06-25|website=Solarthermalworld|language=en}}

In June 2022, GlassPoint re-emerged under the leadership of the founding CEO, Rod MacGregor, adopting a new build-own-operate business model and unveiling an MOU for [https://www.forbes.com/sites/kensilverstein/2022/06/02/worlds-biggest-solar-plant-to-decarbonize-aluminum-industry-in-saudi-arabia/?sh=606a5da86087 one of the largest solar projects] in history with Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden Group). GlassPoint announced it has moved to a “steam as a service” model to reduce up front risk and expanded its markets to include hard-to-abate industries producing materials essential to the energy transition, including mining, metals, and manufacturing.

File:GlassPoint EOR Kern County CA.jpg

In 2011, GlassPoint deployed the world's first commercial solar EOR project at an oilfield operated by Berry Petroleum in Kern County, California USA.{{cite web|last=Cox|first=John|title=Solar oil project debuts in Kern|url=http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/business/x130284466/Solar-oil-project-debuts-in-Kern|publisher=The Bakersfield Californian|accessdate=15 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607211512/http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/business/x130284466/Solar-oil-project-debuts-in-Kern|archive-date=7 June 2013|url-status=dead}} Built in less than six weeks, the system uses the sun's radiant heat to produce approximately 1 million British Thermal Units (Btus) per hour of solar heat. GlassPoint partnered with local firms TJ Cross Engineers and PCL Industrial Services, as well as San Francisco based REM Design, to construct the system, which spans 7,000 square feet of land on the 100-year-old oilfield. The enclosed trough system preheats water to 190 °F used as feed water for Berry Petroleum's gas-fired steam generators.

File:GlassPoint Solar PDO EOR Project.jpg

In May 2013, GlassPoint commissioned the Middle East's first solar EOR project, a 7MW system developed in partnership with Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), the largest oil company in the Sultanate of Oman. The system produces an average of 50 tons of emissions-free steam daily.{{cite news|last=Mahdi|first=Wael|title=GlassPoint Solar Sees Interest from Middle East Oil Firms|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-21/glasspoint-solar-sees-interest-from-middle-east-oil-firms.html|publisher=Bloomberg|accessdate=15 August 2013|date=21 May 2013}} It has operated successfully for more than 4 years, generating an average of 50 tons of emissions-free steam per day that is fed directly into existing thermal EOR operations at PDO's Amal West oilfield.{{cite news|title=Performance of an Enclosed Trough EOR system in South Oman|url=http://www.glasspoint.com/media/2013/11/GlassPoint-Performance-of-Enclosed-Trough-FINAL.pdf|publisher=SolarPACES|accessdate=27 June 2014|date=September 2013|archive-date=11 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811131022/http://www.glasspoint.com/media/2013/11/GlassPoint-Performance-of-Enclosed-Trough-FINAL.pdf|url-status=dead}}

The system was completed on time, on budget, and with no lost time or injuries demonstrating GlassPoint and PDO's shared commitment to health, safety, security and the environment (HSSE). During the first 12 months of operations, the actual performance of the GlassPoint system matched output models by a few percent and steam production continues to exceed contracted performance targets. The system recorded 98.6% uptime and maintained regular operations even during severe dust and sand storms. The automated roof-washing unit proved particularly effective in all weather events, restoring system performance overnight.{{cite news|title=Construction, Operations and Performance of the First Enclosed Trough Solar Steam Generation Pilot for EOR Applications|url=https://www.dropbox.com/s/y8rdvhaiklt08yn/SPE%20169745%20Daniel%20Palmer%20OGWA.pdf|publisher=Society of Petroleum Engineering|accessdate=27 June 2014|date=March 2013}} The project served as a performance and operational baseline for larger steam generators in Oman and provided Petroleum Development Oman with valuable information for planning potential large-scale projects in the future.

In July 2015, Petroleum Development Oman and GlassPoint announced that they had signed an agreement to build a 1 GWth solar field of 1.8 km. The project, named Miraah, was designed to be the world's largest solar field measured by peak thermal capacity.{{cite news|title= Ironic Or Economic? Oil Giant To Build World's Largest Solar Project |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2015/07/08/oil-giant-to-build-worlds-largest-solar-project/|publisher=Forbs|accessdate=8 July 2015|date=8 July 2015|first=Christopher|last=Helman}}

In August 2017, GlassPoint and its contractors crossed the threshold of 1.5 million man-hours worked without lost time injury (LTI) at Miraah.

In November 2017, GlassPoint and Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) completed construction on the first block of the Miraah solar plant safely on schedule and in line with budget and successfully delivered steam to the Amal West oilfield.{{Cite press release|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171101005644/en/Petroleum-Development-Oman-GlassPoint-Announce-Commencement-Steam|title=Petroleum Development Oman and GlassPoint Announce Commencement of Steam Delivery From Miraah Solar Plan|date=November 2017}}

Today, the first 330 MWt at Miraah are operating and meeting all performance targets.{{Cite news|url=https://timesofoman.com/article/140597|title=GlassPoint, PDO launch new tech centre|work=Times of Oman|access-date=2018-11-13|language=en-GB}}

{{Main|Belridge Solar}}

In November 2017, Aera Energy and GlassPoint announced a joint project to create California's largest solar energy field. In November 2018, GlassPoint and Occidental Petroleum of Oman signed an agreement to cooperate on a solar thermal project to facilitate oil production on an oilfield in the Sultanate of Oman. Neither deal was completed due to financing issues.

In June 2022, Glasspoint and Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden Group) signed a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") to develop the world's largest solar process steam plant in Ras al Khair, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

File:Ma adan View3 05-24-large (2).jpg

When complete, the 1,500 MWth facility will reduce Ma’aden’s carbon emissions by over 600,000 tons annually, nearly 4% of Ma'aden's overall carbon footprint, bringing the company closer to its mandate of carbon neutrality by 2050.

• Platts Global Energy Awards 2011. Commercial Technology of the Year Award{{cite web|title=2011 Platts Global Energy Awards|url=http://geaweb.platts.com/Winners/Winners2011|accessdate=August 15, 2013}}
• Oil & Gas Middle East Awards 2013. Enhanced Oil Recovery Award{{citation|title=Winners of the OGME Awards 2013|url=http://www.arabianoilandgas.com/article-11486-winners-of-ogme-2013-awards-are/#.UmWXx5RgZyg|publisher=Arabian Oil and Gas|accessdate=June 27, 2014|archive-date=August 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811130742/http://www.arabianoilandgas.com/article-11486-winners-of-ogme-2013-awards-are/#.UmWXx5RgZyg|url-status=dead}}
• MEED Quality Awards 2014. Oman Sustainable Project of the Year{{citation|title=Oman Sustainable Project of the Year|url=http://www.meed.com/supplements/2014/the-meed-quality-awards-for-projects-2014-national-winners-/oman-sustainable-project-of-the-year/3190761.article|publisher=Middle East Economic Digest|accessdate=June 27, 2014}}
• MENASOL CSP Technology Innovation for MENA 2015{{citation|title=Oman Sustainable Project of the Year|url=http://www.zawya.com/story/GlassPoint_wins_MENASOL_Award_for_CSP_Technology_Innovation-ZAWYA20150520091723/|publisher=Zawya|accessdate=July 9, 2015}}
• Oil & Gas Middle East 2016. Best EOR Project of the Year{{Cite web|url=http://www.arabianoilandgas.com/oil-gas-awards/|title=Oil & Gas Awards|website=www.arabianoilandgas.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-08-21|archive-date=2017-08-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822064128/http://www.arabianoilandgas.com/oil-gas-awards/|url-status=dead}}
• SolarPACES 2016. Technology Innovation Award{{Cite web|url=http://www.solarpaces.org/awards|title=Awards|website=www.solarpaces.org|language=en-gb|access-date=2017-08-21}}
• World Economic Forum 2016. Technology Pioneer{{Cite web|url=http://us3.campaign-archive2.com/?u=f818d8875e4e163d88dccbad1&id=c06764c2e6|title=World Economic Forum names GlassPoint a Technology Pioneer|website=us3.campaign-archive2.com|access-date=2017-08-21}}
• Shell Upstream International 2016. Impact Award for Safety & Environment{{Cite web|url=http://us3.campaign-archive1.com/?u=f818d8875e4e163d88dccbad1&id=5a0f7d0b1d|title=Shell awards GlassPoint and PDO|website=us3.campaign-archive1.com|access-date=2017-08-21}}
• ADIPEC 2015. Best Oil & Gas Innovation or Technology{{Cite web|url=https://www.adipec.com/media-pr/adipec-2015-awards-celebrate-excellence-best-practice-and-innovation-in-energy/|title=Best Oil & Gas Innovation or Technology 2015 (ADIPEC)}}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• MENASOL 2017. CSP Technology Innovation{{Cite web|url=http://events.newenergyupdate.com/mena/awards-index.php|title=MENA New Energy 2017|website=MENA New Energy 2017|access-date=2017-08-21|archive-date=2017-08-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820172908/http://events.newenergyupdate.com/mena/awards-index.php|url-status=dead}}

• Concentrated solar power
• Enhanced oil recovery
• Low-carbon fuel standard
• Miraah
• Parabolic trough
• Petroleum Development Oman
• Solar thermal energy
• Solar thermal enhanced oil recovery

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• {{Official website|http://www.glasspoint.com/}}

Category:Companies based in Fremont, California

Category:Technology companies based in the San Francisco Bay Area

Category:Solar thermal energy