Advancing solar cells to the limit with energy cascading

Author

Kirk, Alexander P.

Author_Institution

Arizona State Univ., Tempe, AZ, USA

fYear

2013

fDate

16-21 June 2013

Abstract

An analysis of six-junction (6J) concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) solar cells and modules versus combined cycle power plants is presented in order to determine if the power conversion efficiency of 6J CPV modules can equal or exceed the power conversion efficiency of combined gas turbine/steam turbine power plants. The 6J CPV solar cells are modeled with a realistic DNI solar spectrum at Phoenix, AZ, USA and then CPV cell efficiency and module system efficiency is calculated. Six junction CPV cells and modules will have to be pushed close to their limits in order to approach the performance of combined cycle power plants. If this is the case, it may be possible to realize ~ 50% CPV module AC efficiency with advanced 6J CPV cells and optimized balance of systems.

Keywords

energy conservation; solar cells; solar energy concentrators; 6J CPV solar cell; AC efficiency; AZ; CPV module; DNI solar spectrum; Phoenix; USA; cell efficiency; combined cycle power plant; combined gas turbine-steam turbine power plant; energy cascading; module system efficiency; power conversion efficiency; six-junction concentrated photovoltaic solar cell; Junctions; Optics; Photonics; Photovoltaic cells; Power conversion; Turbines; energy cascading; multijunction; photovoltaic cell; power conversion efficiency; solar cell;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC), 2013 IEEE 39th

Conference_Location

Tampa, FL

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/PVSC.2013.6744265

Filename

6744265