Performance analysis and modeling of the world´s largest CPV power plant

The 30MW solar power plant in Alamosa, Colorado, built by the power-plant developer Cogentrix using Amonix high concentration photovoltaic systems, is the world´s largest plant of its kind. Since its commissioning in March 2012, the plant has been consistently producing power above its rating of 30MW. The plant was equipped with lenses from three vendors and two multi-junction solar cell designs, which provides a good platform for making a side-by-side comparison of different technologies in the field. We found that the three lenses demonstrated different system efficiency and temperature dependent behavior in the field. The two cell designs also displayed distinctive behavior in the field. The field performance of both cell designs matched well with a predictive energy model based upon the cell, optics, heat transfer characteristics of the module, and field spectra generated by the SMARTS model. In addition, we discuss the capability of the energy model and simulate the annual energy efficiency of Amonix systems at six other locations in southwestern US.