1MW system design

[astrayan]

http://www.colterlec.com.au/client_images/611698.pdf

Looks like $300k for around 1MW continuous. You still need a 1MW transformer.

JT hasn't specified what the output of this thing is going to.

[mountain]

maybe something to do with the difference of washing off the panels, vs other more complex methods.

http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy03osti/34186.pdf

Spent a bit of time searching, and most solar generation of anything but small-scale use solar-thermal. It's simply cheaper. Parabolic solar-troughs, on a reasonably small scale, would be able to generate sufficient steam for a 1MW generator, even at norther latitudes.

http://www.greenpowerscience.com/

These folks sell the reflective film for do-it-yourself solar troughs. Good for experimenting on smaller scale. Evacuated Glass-tube collectors should work well, & can be series connected, so very high temperatures should be achievable.

1MVA distribution tranasforers are common enough (I have 2 at my work-site). However, distribution xfrs are always owned by the utility. A 1MVA, 600-24,940 pad-mount (wye-wye), is worth about $75k. Mfrs are Carte, Maloney. 600V 3-ph is typical industrial voltage for Canada, 480v in the Usa.

[driftless]

Get a professional solar design engineer, preferably one who is also a PE.