Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Design and development of a high-concentration photovoltaic concentrator

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5140659· OSTI ID:5140659

The design and development of a high concentration photovoltaic concentrator module is discussed. The design concept described herein incorporates a curved groove domed Fresnel lens, a high concentration etched multiple vertical junction (EMVJ) solar cell and a passively cooled direct-bonded copper cell mount all packaged in a plastic module. Two seven inch diameter 1200x domed Fresnel lenses were fabricated using single point diamond turning technology. Testing at both GE and Sandia confirmed optical transmission efficiencies of over 83%. Samples of the latest available EMVJ cells were mounted and installed, with a domed Fresnel lens, into a prototype module. Subsequent testing demonstrated net lens-cell efficiencies of 10 to 13%. As a result of this program, salient conclusions have been formulated as to this technology.

Research Organization:
General Electric Co., Philadelphia, PA (USA). Advanced Energy Programs Dept.
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00789
OSTI ID:
5140659
Report Number(s):
SAND-81-7007; ON: DE82015673
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English