Technology timeline

1970 Kockums AB, a shipyard in Malmö, starts with studies and tests of Stirling engines, based on previous research of Philips.

1980 Kockums’ daughter company “Stirling Power Systems” in Linköping focuses on the development of a Stirling engine for stationary applications, the SPS V160.

1988 SPS V160 units accumulate 350.000 operating hours on 150 built units, over 28.000 on single units and service free times of 8.000 hours were demonstrated.

1990 Schlaich Bergermann und Partner (SBP) takes the licence for the V160 and acquires Solo Kleinmotoren GmbH in DE- Sindelfingen as a partner for development and production.

1993 The V 160 is analysed and tested over three years, the Distal project with 8 kWel accumulated 25.000 test hours with three solar systems, a natural gas CHP plant was run 14.000 hours.

1995 A new designed engine, the Solo Stirling 161 is realised with the same concept but improved in several details. Power and efficiency are increased, castings improved, the gas cooler is flexible and service easier.

1997 Together with SBP, the Distal 2 project is started using three Solo Stirling 161 in a solar version for new concentrators. A new solar receiver is patented, power output was increased to over 9 kWel.

1998 Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico/ US buys five solar Solo Stirling 161 Power Conversion Units. They are used in combination with Sandias own concentrator.

1999 The combustion system is completely re- designed according to emission levels and security aspects. 16 natural gas field test units are tested in several sites all over Germany; 500.000 hours are accumulated with V 160 and 161 engines.

2000 SBP has installed six new concentrators with fibreglass parabolas until 2004, the “Eurodish”. All were equipped with the Stirling 161 engines and they are installed in Spain, France, Italy and Germany.

2002 Sandia shows more than 10 kWel and efficiencies of over 25%. This final version was demonstrated during one year in a reliability test with satisfying result. More than 25.000 operating hours were accumulated, over 11.000 on a single unit

2003 Solo Kleinmotoren founds the daughter “Solo Stirling GmbH” and starts a small serial production of natural gas CHP units. Low emission levels could be achieved and resulted in the label “Blauer Engel”, security aspects were approved by the German TÜV. Patents for the combustor, design of pistons and gas cooler were approved.

2006 More than 2 million operating hours are accumulated, nearly 150 Solo Stirling units built. The units working with low- cost sewage gas showed excellent results.

2007 To allow a capital increase for higher volume production, the Swiss Stirling Systems AG together with the Swiss energy supplier EBM plans to take over 75 % of Solo Stirling but it fails, a new owner is searched.

2008 Cleanergy AB buys the rights, IP and materials and prepares production with more focus on costs and quality at higher volumes.

2009 First Cleanergy Stirling V161 units are built in Amal, Sweden, for natural gas, keeping the same design but using better machining and improved quality management.

2010 A new developed off- grid system is launched by Cleanergy and delivered with natural gas units to Russia for application on gas- pipelines.

2011 First Cleanergy solar Stirling V 161 units are delivered to Spain, Korea and China, first tests in the Chinese concentrator successful.