Patent ID: 8151568

Claim:
A system for converting solar energy into electricity, the system comprising: a solar energy concentrator having a non-planar front surface, the concentrator comprising a plurality of panels defining the non-planar front surface, each panel having a plurality of edges; a boom; and an energy converting apparatus comprising: an incident solar energy receiving surface aligned to receive solar energy reflected from the solar energy concentrator; a ring frame comprising a plurality of supporting members and a top substantially circular region having an outer circumference and an inner circumference and comprising a plurality of attachment mounts; and an engine disposed within an engine housing suspended within the inner circumference and substantially perpendicular to the top substantially circular region, the boom connecting and aligning the energy converting apparatus and the solar energy concentrator, wherein each panel comprises: a non-planar surface, wherein the non-planar surface comprises a first portion having a first edge and a second edge, the first and second edges being radially oriented with respect to the center of the concave reflector when the panel is positioned in the concave reflector; wherein the non-planar surface comprises a second portion having a third edge and a fourth edge, the third and fourth edges are radially oriented with respect to a second center that is nonconcentric with the center of the concave reflector when the panel is positioned in the concave reflector; and wherein when assembled in the concave reflector, the concave reflector includes a slot, running to the circumference of the reflector from substantially the center of the reflector, the slot having parallel edges.