A flat-plate concentrator: micro-concentrator design overview

Author

Mulligan, W.P. ; Terao, A. ; Daroczi, S.G. ; Pujol, O. Chao ; Cudzinovic, M.J. ; Verlinden, P.J. ; Swanson, R.M. ; Benitez, P. ; Miñano, J.C.

Author_Institution

SunPower Corp., Sunnyvale, CA, USA

fYear

2000

fDate

2000

Firstpage

1495

Lastpage

1497

Abstract

SunPower is developing a novel 300× concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) module. Tiny silicon solar cells and a compact nonimaging optics design enable a very low profile “micro-concentrator” design. The module is only 3 cm thick, but has a large acceptance angle (±2°) and looks much like a conventional flat plate module. Module photovoltaic conversion efficiency is projected to be about 18% (AM1.5d, 60°C). This paper presents an overview of the solar cell design, concentrating optics and module design issues, as well as assembly details, cost projections and preliminary test results

Keywords

elemental semiconductors; semiconductor device measurement; semiconductor device testing; silicon; solar cell arrays; solar energy concentrators; 18 percent; 3 cm; 60 C; Si; acceptance angle; assembly details; compact nonimaging optics design; concentrating optics; concentrating photovoltaic module; cost projections; flat-plate concentrator; micro-concentrator design; module design; performance testing; photovoltaic conversion efficiency; silicon solar cells; Assembly; Costs; Metallization; Optical design; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaic systems; Plasma temperature; Silicon; Solar power generation; Surface-mount technology;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 2000. Conference Record of the Twenty-Eighth IEEE

Conference_Location

Anchorage, AK

ISSN

0160-8371

Print_ISBN

0-7803-5772-8

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/PVSC.2000.916177

Filename

916177