During the second half of 2003, the SAIC dish went under significant changes. It was initially designed with stretched membrane facets (much like a large diameter, small height drum) and driving an STM Stirling Engine. The facets were given their curvature (and thus their focusing ability) by pulling a very light vacuum on them. A photo of the original arrangement is shown below (left). The engine is on the arm at the upper left.

The newly configured system is shown in the figure above (right). This is now set up to generate electricity with photovoltaic cells that can withstand high intensity.

The facets are of a fixed-focus and have a surface area of 133 m². An example of one of the facets is shown at right. This arrangement consists of a number of small mirror elements that are affixed in a hexagonal overall structure. The mirrors are flat, single-strength back-silvered glass tiles with a reflectivity of 88%. The hexagonal arrangements are mounted in the same locations as the previous stretched-membrane type.

The other modification involves the replacement of the Stirling engine with a dense array concentrating photovoltaic (PV) receiver which is pictured above. In simple terms this is a copper plate with PV cells mounted on the front. Single crystal, single junction silicon solar PV cells are the type that have been mounted. The concentration is approximately 250 suns and the cell operates at temperature is about 65°C (149°F.) Cooling passages are formed in the opposite side of the plate from the cells. Behind this is a cooling system consisting of several automotive radiators, a fan, and a pumped liquid coolant loop. The overall configuration appears similar to the original engine arrangement, but functions quite differently.

Initially the PV cells are the typical single junction type, but designed to tolerate the high fluxes of the concentrated beam. These will have efficiencies that are similar to most other cells that range between 8-14%. At a later time, the single junction cells will be replaced with triple junction types that have sunlight-to-electricity efficiencies almost three times that of the single junction cells. The electrical connection these cells is DC and is then converted to AC by solid state converters.

This system will have a peak power of 15 kW with an annual efficiency of 11% and the annual energy generation will be 32,000 kWh.

Below is a view of the photovoltaic cells when generating power. This picture was taken through a dark filter because the intensity of the light could harm the camera. Without the dark filter this high intensity light would look very similar to looking into the sun.