High-Concentration Photovoltaic (HCPV) systems

Amonix is the world's leading designer and manufacturer of proprietary High Concentration Photovoltaic (HCPV) power generation systems for large commercial and utility scale applications.The Amonix HCPV product is a fully integrated two-axis tracking system that substantially reduces the cost of solar electricity compared to that generated from conventional one-sun solar systems in usage today.

Amonix High Concentration Photovoltaic (HCPV) system, recognized as the world's most powerful and efficient, employs unique patented technology that converts sunlight to electricity in a pollution-free, cost-effective and highly efficient manner.To achieve these product benefits, Amonix's HCPV systems utilize the following technologies: (more about Amonix Technologies)

Cool Earth Solar has developed a breakthrough solar technology that can ultimately produce enough clean energy to address the global energy crisis. This technology dramatically reduces the cost and time to develop solar power plants capable of generating massive amounts of clean energy at prices competitive with fossil fuels.
Cool Earth Solar has developed breakthrough solar technology that can ultimately produce enough clean energy to address the global energy crisis. This patented concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) technology dramatically reduces the cost and time to develop solar power plants capable of generating massive amounts of clean energy at prices competitive with fossil fuels.
"Our technology, which is the basis for our power plants, is "reshaping solar energy" in a very literal way: Most of today's solar energy systems take the form of flat panels or boxes-with-lenses and require large amounts of heavy, expensive materials. Our inflated solar concentrators, on the other hand, are shaped like balloons and are primarily made of inexpensive and free materials. This design approach radically reduces material requirements as well as our plant deployment costs and time." more

"Light incident on the face of the OFC is captured and chaneled out to the edges. Since the OSC doesn't use a lens or mirror to focus light, the systemdoesn't require tracking or cooling and can operate under diffuse light.

Our technology can be modified to function with most conventional solar modules, substantially enhancing their power output while adding minimal cost. We seek to reduce the cost of solar electricty alongside, and not against, competing approaches to cost reduction. " more

The mission of EDTEK is to be a leader in research, development, and manufacture of energy conversion products and of pursue the development of a power generation product line that includes a modular, co-generative, alternative energy systems approach.

"We are currently focused on a patented photovoltaic (PV) generator that utilizes a revolutionary dish design and concentration system. A low-cost, high-performance solar concentrator that can easily be produced in large quantities, provides a common basis for each generator.
Figure 1 is a photo of the EDTEK SolBlu combined heat and power (CHP), solar concentrator unit. The Solar Combined Heat and Power System demonstrates the field operational feasibility of the EDTEK SolBlu solar concentrator systems. These systems are designed to intercept sunlight and convert it electrical and thermal energy. The thermal energy is usually collected in the form of hot water; however, the systems could produce steam if desired (at the expense of a slightly lower electrical efficiency). EDTEK was selected by the California Energy Commision to demonstrate the efficiency of this technology. An array of fifteen units will be deployed with combined electrical and thermal loads and monitored over a one-year period on the San Diego State University(SDSU) Campuses. Each 4 dish unit will generate 11 kWh of electricity and 29.5 kWh (or 100,000 BTU's) of thermal output per day." more

The Sunflower concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) system integrates photovoltaic modules, advanced tracking, unique power optimization, an embedded controller and wireless communication into one elegant solution to produce cost-competitive solar power while reducing installation and maintenance costs.

The Sunflower uses a proprietary Fresnel lens to focus the sun's rays onto a very small piece of photovoltaic material. Our PV cells are among the most efficient in the world with over 35% efficiency. They are composed of three photovoltaic junctions, each of which responds to a different wavelength of light, enabling our cells to produce far more energy than traditional single-layer silicon-based cells. Each cell is backed by a set of aluminum cooling fins that use natural air flow to keep the cell at a low operating temperature despite the concentration levels

In order for a high-concentration solar concentrator to work, the lens must be pointed directly at the sun. This requires a tracking system that moves the module in two axes. Our product tracks the sun by moving in altitude (distance above the horizon) and azimuth (the angle across the horizon). The integrated, two-axis, closed-loop tracking system monitors the energy output of the system and uses that information to adjust the positions of the modules for maximum yield without the need for separate sensors." more

"GreenVolts' concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) solution is a state-of-the-art technology designed to achieve the highest solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency through an innovative integration of optics and solar tracking. Similar to central station power plants, GreenVolts' technology enables a low levelized cost of energy, and yet it can be built close to load, further increasing efficiency and reducing costs.

"NREL is partnering with GreenVolts to commercialize the Inverted Metamorphic (IMM) advanced multi-junction solar cell design. Through its Technology Commercialization and Deployment Fund, the U.S. Department of Energy has committed $500,000 for GreenVolts to co-develop NREL's patents and bring this new technology to market." more

" Absolicon X10 A new era in solar energy has been initiated through the launch of Absolicon X10. The revolutionary idea behind our product is with a cost effective and unique design concentrate the sunlight in order to produce electricity and heat simultaneous. The technology that Absolicon has developed combining photovoltaic cells and a solar collector is called Double Solar Technology and is the result of many years of research and testing.

With the X10 you only need one solar system in order to produce electricity and heat. Thereby X10 optimizes the use of the space on for example roof tops where the module can be installed, at the same time we dramatically reduce installation costs as less cable and piping is required. In addition to this the X10 includes a solar tracking and control system (PLC) device with electrical custom-designed high quality linear actuators which automatically turns the X10 against the sun, and with the help of built-in temperature sensors it ensures that the solar system never will be overheated.

The X10 construction is optimized for installations larger than 20m2. The X10 is offered in four different lengths; 6, 10, 14 and 18 meters. These different lengths can be linked together in series for installations without any surface restrictions, i.e. everything between 20m2 - 100 000 m2 are possible installations with the X10. Our products are very well applied where the properties have a high consumption of hot water like for example hotels, hospitals, industries, sport-centers, airports and apartment-complexes" more

"Pacific SolarTech is the world leader in developing and manufacturing concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) modules, for applications from utility-scale solar power plants to remote-power and grid-connected power systems. PST offers a line of products with the MicroPVTM moniker. The concentrator PV module (MicroPVTM made by PST) is a milestone in the concentrator PV industry. This successful breakthrough in concentrator PV module manufacturing makes the dream of affordable solar power a reality.

The affordable solar power era is coming. PST uses advanced dome-shaped lenses to concentrate sunlight 10 times onto small area solar cells (only one tenth of the lens size). For every 7 watts produced the solar cell consumes only 1 watt. This technique greatly reduces the requisite amount of silicon. It offers needed relief in today's high-priced, silicone-short environment. PST is able to use semiconductor-level silicon, which is highly competitive with that of the semiconductor industry.

And our advanced passive cooling design used with the MicroPVTM CPV dissipates heat much more effectively than conventional flat panel PV modules. PST's senior management team and staff were well trained in the automotive industry. They have successfully adapted the quality assurance process from the automotive industry to the concentrator PV industry. Resultantly, they have created and produced extremely reliable, ultra high quality CPV products." more

"The key to HPC Film is its ability to collect energy from all directions, over 360 degrees. Direct, diffuse, low angle and reflected energy is concentrated onto smaller, or fewer, solar cells, which lets HPC solar modules produce more kilowatt hours, through longer periods of the day and season, without expensive mechanical tracking systems.
360-degree collection enables HPC solar modules to operate close to peak efficiency in low light conditions. In the chart below, the yellow bars show the amount of light available annually in a typical, temperate region (Columbus, OH). Lower light levels are at the left, with full sun (a condition almost never reached) at the far right." more

"Sol3g uses an optical concentration system that concentrates the solar light in a much smaller area of solar cell. Few semiconductor material is used - the semiconductor surface is 400 times smaller than that of a traditional crystalline silicon flat panel - with the consequent cost saving. "

" It has been designed a 2 components optical system that provides a geometric concentration of 476 suns (1) along with a high deviation tolerance.

Sol3g uses tandem triple junction cells, consisting of a stack of cells of different composition with a progressively decreasing bandwidth, so that the cells in the top of the stack absorb higher energy photons than those of the bottom part." more

"Soliant Energy is an award-winning manufacturer of innovative concentrating solar panels. Our rooftop solar concentrator offers an efficient and cost-effective solution for solar electric systems.
Soliant uses the latest in solar cell technology. By using specialized triple-junction cells, our rooftop solar concentrator can capture more of the sun's energy than conventional solar panels.
Product Features: Concentrates the sun 500x - Fully integrated tracking within the module Internal sensors for automatic alignment - Bypass diodes for high shade tolerance - Durable rigid frame with low wind profile - Passive thermal cooling - Zero maintenance design.
Triple-junction cells use specialized materials to capture a wider range of solar energy. While standard silicon cells only capture 15-20% of the sun's rays, today's triple junction cells can capture as much as 40% or more" more

"Our mission is to provide solar energy generation at a cost equal to or better than traditional electric generation from natural gas, oil, and even coal. To achieve this goal, we've developed technology that eliminates the cost barriers to solar energy production.
Concentrated Photovoltaics (CPV)
High costs have been the roadblock keeping solar from realizing its potential. Concentrating Photovoltaics (CPV) technology, which concentrates a large amount of sunlight onto a small amount of active solar material, seeks to overcome the issues. CPV technology is increasingly recognized as the most promising technology to drive solar energy generation to cost-parity with energy generated using fossil fuels. " more

" Solar Systems is a world leader in electricity production from concentrated photovoltaic power plants using dense array converter technology.

The CS500 has 112 curved reflecting mirrors mounted on a steel frame, which tracks the sun throughout the day. The combination of mirror profile, mounting framework and solar receiver are carefully designed to deliver concentrated sunlight energy to each PV module. The tracking mechanism maximises the amount of electricity produced.

The heart of the system is an array of close-packed PV cells that are located in the solar receiver, suspended above the focus of the mirrors. The cells are mounted in a way that allows efficient dissipation of thermal energy as well as extraction of electricity. Since PV performance falls by around 1.7% for every 10°C rise in cell temperature and the sunlight is concentrated 500x, effective cooling is critical to achieve efficient performance. The module also incorporates electrical connections to deliver DC output as well as current and temperature sensors for real-time monitoring." more

"Power Solutions using EMCORE Concentrator Photovoltaic Arrays (CPV) Using optical lenses and mirrors we concentrate the sunlight onto a very small, highly efficient Multi-Junction solar cell. For example, under 500-sun concentration, 1 cm2 of solar cell area produces the same electricity as 500 cm2 would, without concentration. This is particularly significant when considering the inherent efficiency advantage of the Multi-Junction technology over Silicon solar cells The use of concentration, therefore, allows substitution of cost-effective materials such as lenses and mirrors for the more costly semiconductor PV cell material.EMCORE's Multi- Junction Solar Cell Technology Adapted to Terrestrial Power Generation High efficiency Multi-Junction cells have a significant advantage over conventional silicon cells in concentrator systems because fewer solar cells are required to achieve the same power output." more

" Based on our award-winning Optica technology, our new ClearPower PV module product line delivers 3x concentration without tracking or moving parts, uses far less PV than traditional modules and is "see-through" – all while maintaining high-efficiency power output.

A simpler, more affordable, more attractive solar module. With Optica technology at its core, our ClearPower PV module product line is the outcome of many advances in solar panel design, engineering and manufacturing. The result - a module with dramatic advantages over traditional solar panels.

Clear "See-through" Aesthetics - Blends With Architecture Unlike conventional modules, ClearPower modules are see-through. "Black rectangles" are a thing of the past. ClearPower modules let the color and texture of the roof show through, blending in beautifully with the existing architecture.

3x Concentration - Less PV, No Maintenance ClearPower modules use our innovative Optica technology to deliver 3x concentration without the need for complicated, high-maintenance tracking systems or moving parts. Using 1/3rd the PV, our modules deliver the same power per square area as conventional modules using the cells of equivalent efficiency.

Simplified Installation - Faster, Less Expensive ClearPower modules use standard installation practices (no special training required) and allow for direct-to-roof application, saving installation time and costly materials and simplifying the installation by eliminating the need for racking. " more

Using SUNRGI's proprietary technology it is possible to produce large amounts of electricity from solar radiation at a wholesale price of US $0.05/kWh

"Solar power at 5 cents per kWh would be a world-changing breakthrough. It would make solar generation of electricity as affordable as generation from coal, natural gas or other non-renewable sources, without requiring any subsidy

SUNRGI has created a new solar energy system that will soon make it possible to produce electricity at a wholesale cost of 5-cents per kWh (kilowatt hour), a price that is competitive with the wholesale cost of producing electricity using fossil fuels and a fraction of the current cost of solar energy. The system is called Xtreme Concentrated Photovoltaics or XCPV.

Virtually everyone has used a magnifying glass to focus sunlight down to a small, very bright, hot spot of light. SUNRGI uses this same principle in its Xtreme Concentrated Photovoltaics (XCPV) system (patents pending). SUNRGI efficiently concentrates sunlight so that it is more than 1,600 times brighter than the sun. This concentrated sunlight is focused onto photovoltaic (PV) solar cells that convert more than 37% of the sunlight directly into electricity." more

A revolutionary new low cost high efficiency HCPV system

Light-Guide Solar Optic (LSO), a thin optical structure made from simple acrylic and glass components that internally concentrates sunlight. The concentrated sunlight is redirected onto small photovoltaic cells attached at the centre of the optic

" The Sun Simba HCPV is a revolutionary new low cost High Concentrated Photovoltaic (HCPV) system based on the proprietary Light-guide Solar Optic (LSO). This product is not yet available, and is still in the prototype and testing stage of development. We expect the Sun Simba HCPV to be available for in the beginning of 2010. Check our blog for progress updates and other details.

Each Sun Simba HCPV panel is comprised of a row of 5 mm thick LSO optics, coupled to multi-junction photovoltaic cells. The panels are supported by a thin aluminum spine. A complete module is made up of panels arranged into two uneven levels called the Staggered Row design.

Modules comprise a few pounds of aluminum and optical material (principally acrylic), some electronics and tiny slivers of multi-junction photovoltaic cells. By eliminating almost everything that isn't concentrating light or converting it into electricity, we've developed a lightweight, easy to assemble system that can be built at a fraction of the costs of competing photovoltaic systems." more

"Entech Solar's SolarVolt system is based on proprietary concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) technology that produces cost-competitive electricity. With over 25 years of experience, Entech's SolarVolt system is one of the few successfully demonstrated systems in the industry today.
Benefits:
Low-Cost
By concentrating the sun 20X, reduces silicon requirements by 95% compared to traditional PV systems.
Reliable Production Performance
Superior optical design of lens results in high error tolerance, enabling reliable, continuous production of energy even in the harshest environment.
Proven Performance and Reliability
Over 25 years of product development and successful field performance
Fixed Hedge Against Electricity
Minimizes customer's vulnerability to increasing, volatile electricity prices... " more

HE Optics System
Sunlight first meets the HE Optics System at its specially designed and patented, short focal-length, acrylic concentrating lens. As the rays pass through the lens, the light reflects and refracts, raising the sunlight concentration to 6,500 suns on a small pinpoint of light. A secondary optic, with its specially manufactured glass body, captures this pinpoint and deposits the concentrated solar flux evenly on a small multi-junction PV cell. Together, the elements produce 800 times more electricity than a similarly-sized silicon solar cell.

solar tracking:
Regardless of season or time of day, Pyron Solar efficiently tracks the sun. A platform with multiple arrays, floating close to each other in shallow, evaporation-retardant water, rotate around its vertical axis with the azimuthal travel of the sun. A special gear activates a linkage to allow each floating module to track solar elevation by tilting up and down as needed. The linkages are powered by three small 6-watt motors, the same size used in children's toys." more

"The ZenithSolar optical dish is based on a patented design, utilizing multiple simple flat mirrors mounted on a plastic surface. The molded plastic surface, divided into four quadrants, is fixed onto a rigid, high precision metal frame assembled onto an azimuth - elevation solar tracking system.

The concentrated solar radiation is reflected from each individual mirror onto an array of solar cells. ZenithSolar uses field proven high efficiency multi-junction III-V solar cells.

In conventional CPV systems, the excess heat generated in the solar cell needs to be removed to avoid damaging the cell and to maintain high efficiency of electricity conversion. ZenithSolar utilizes the heat generated at the solar cell receiver to provide usable hot water heating, improving overall solar power conversion efficiency to 75%" more

As the solar industry matures customers value energy yield and cost more than peak "nameplate" rating. High Gain Solar (HGS) describes a series of system level design attributes which drive lower installed cost and higher energy yield relative to traditional fixed tilt PV.

"The movement to HGS started with the adoption of high efficiency silicon cells and tracking which increases energy yield and it now includes reflective materials, lower cost panels, convection cooling, string & shadow management, streamlined installation and maintenance. Systems which combine one or more of these attributes are considered to be high gain.

Skyline's Approach
Building on proven solar technology, Skyline's patented HGS architecture provides the energy cost of thin film with the performance and reliability of leading silicon PV. The architecture is also engineered for scalability, drawing on proven materials and traditional manufacturing processes available on a vast scale." more

JX Crystals champions Thermo and Solar Photovoltaic products that work together to generate heat and electricity throughout the year, day and night, by combining renewable solar energy with the most efficient use of fossil fuels. Our product designs are based on operation at high power densities where PV cells are most efficient and with materials chosen to cover the broad energy spectrum from visible sunlight to infrared heat.

"JX Crystals is a spin-off from the Boeing Company with licenses for key patents on IR sensitive Gallium Antimonide photovoltaic cells. JXC broadened the usefulness of GaSb cells to include not only efficiency boosting aerospace solar cells but also Thermo PV cells and TPV Combined Heat and Power systems. JXC has established a strong patent position in TPV technology and is currently seeking investors and strategic partners to develop a 1.5 KWe residential home cogeneration system that can supply heat, hot water and electricity from natural gas or propane.

JXC has an international patent position on a novel, low cost Solar PV module design and has started manufacturing product in China for 500 kW projects there in 2006 and then for the Global Market. The design is a low concentration 3 Sun approach that replaces 2/3 of the expensive crystalline solar cells in a module with low cost metal mirrors. JXC sees this effort as a first evolutionary step toward the ultimate goal of high efficiency and high concentration for utility scale PV power generation.

JXC is also doing R&D on 40% efficiency solar cells and systems, including a new cassegrainian concentrator concept with distinct advantages for 4 junction PV stacks. High concentration and efficiency go hand-in-hand toward full scale utility power generation that will be cost competitive with fossil fuels." more