Non-tracked mirror-augmented photovoltaic design and performance

In developing photovoltaic (PV) technology, it is crucial to provide low cost PV power. One of the useful methods is to increase power output of conventional modules since the major cost (module manufacturing, mounts, wiring and installation labor, etc.) tends to scale with system area, and increased power output due to improved light harvesting will produce more power per unit area. The use of PV modules, which have been augmented by the addition of a low cost solar mirror provides the opportunity to improve light harvesting of a PV module while reducing the power cost. In order to harvest more incident solar irradiance, an optimized design configuration between a flat-panel module and mirror is necessary for a fixed (non-tracked) mirror-augmented photovoltaic (MAPV) system. A series of Matlab calculations were developed to screen various MAPV design configurations. We use TracePro to determine irradiance non-uniformity issues on the fixed MAPV system. Both the Matlab^® and TracePro^® results are compared to outdoor field test results. IV curve tracing of test modules was performed with a Daystar Multi-tracer for time series analysis. Over 3 months period of study the fixed MAPV system produce 10% more power than an equivalent non-augmented panel. An adjustable mounting system “time machine” was used to estimate yearly power production. The experimental time machine result matches the ray trace simulation by TracePro which shows a “gullwing curve” oof annual power output with peak production on the equinoxes and reduced production on the solstices.