Concentrators applications in the Photovoltaic Systems

Abstract

— An emerging application of Photovoltaic (PV) devices is in Concentrator Photovoltaic (CPV) systems. These systems are rapidly gaining in popularity as they offer several economic advantages over current technologies. CPV systems make use of relatively inexpensive optical devices, such as lenses or mirrors to focus light from an aperture onto a smaller active area of semiconductor material. In doing so, light is ‘concentrated’ to higher intensities than ordinary sunlight, and less PV cell material is required for a given output. This brings several benefits: the total cost of the system can be reduced; higher system efficiencies are possible due to the increased solar flux intensities and because higher efficiency cells can be used without incurring great cost; demand for semiconductor materials can be reduced, thereby easing supply restrictions on these materials and facilitating reductions in market price.