Advances in concentrator technology

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6802913

Boes, E C; Maish, A B

This presentation will discuss the numerous significant advances which have been made in photovoltaic concentrator development in the past 18 months. These advances have important performance, cost and reliability implications for concentrator technology in both the near-term and the more distant future. The advances include: development of Si concentrator cells with efficiencies of 28% at Stanford and 25% at the University of New South Wales; development of better and more cost-effective Fresnel lenses, cell assemblies, and trackers and controllers; and use of 1-sun Si cells in low concentration designs. With these advances and continued development, PV concentrator module prices of $1 per peak watt can probably be achieved within several years. Thus, PV concentrators represent a very attractive collector option for large PV power systems in the near future.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 6802913
• Report Number(s): SAND-87-1126C; CONF-870528-3; ON: DE87008972
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
140600 -- Solar Energy-- Photovoltaic Power Systems
CONCENTRATOR SOLAR CELLS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EQUIPMENT
FRESNEL LENS
LENSES
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR CELL ARRAYS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT