Photovoltaic concentrator research status

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:5789369

Arvizu, D E

This paper describes the most important developments in concentrator research and development since the fifth E.C. Photovoltaic Energy Conference in October 1983. Within the Sandia managed Photovoltaic Concentrator Research Project several record cell efficiencies have been reported. Applied Solar Energy Corporation has fabricated a concentrator silicon cell with 20.9% peak efficiency, at 90X concentration. Varian Associates has demonstrated a 26.0% efficient GaAs cell at 700X concentration. Hughes Research Labs together with Applied Solar Energy Corporation and Sandia has demonstrated a 24.7% efficient, at 70X concentration, mechanically-stacked multijunction device using GaAs on silicon. In addition, a record efficiency for silicon technology has been demonstrated with the Sandia developed 200X silicon module. The module has been measured to have 17% peak efficiency. This paper will review these accomplishments, other research progress, and current research directions in concentrator cells, modules, and arrays. A brief economic assessment is also presented which indicates the potential of concentrator technology.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 5789369
• Report Number(s): SAND-85-0951C; CONF-850408-1; ON: DE85010119
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
CASCADE SOLAR CELLS
CONCENTRATOR SOLAR CELLS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ECONOMICS
EFFICIENCY
EQUIPMENT
GALLIUM ARSENIDE SOLAR CELLS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT