High-performance 4096× ultra-high CPV module based on multiple concentrator units and optical guides.

Ultra-high concentrator photovoltaic systems aim to enhance the conversion efficiency of sunlight and to reduce the cost of electricity. However, it is still necessary to develop optical systems with higher efficiencies and angular tolerances for them to become a reality. This Letter proposes a novel design that is able to achieve a geometric concentration of 4096×.

Monitoring photovoltaic soiling: assessment, challenges, and perspectives of current and potential strategies.

Soiling is the process whereby dirt, dust, and organic/inorganic contaminants deposit on the surface of a photovoltaic (PV) module. It causes significant economic losses and can have a substantial impact on the expansion of photovoltaic technologies for energy generation. The first step to address soiling adequately is monitoring, as soiling mitigation has to be tailored to the specific conditions of each PV system and no universally valid strategy exists.

Exploring ultra-high concentrator photovoltaic Cassegrain-Koehler-based designs up to 6000×.

Ultra-High Concentrator Photovoltaic (UHCPV) designs with up to more than 6000× geometrical concentration and optical efficiency of 80% are demonstrated in this paper by means of ray tracing simulations. These are developed based on Cassegrain-Koehler concentrators [Opt. Lett.

Modelling photovoltaic soiling losses through optical characterization.

The accumulation of soiling on photovoltaic (PV) modules affects PV systems worldwide. Soiling consists of mineral dust, soot particles, aerosols, pollen, fungi and/or other contaminants that deposit on the surface of PV modules. Soiling absorbs, scatters, and reflects a fraction of the incoming sunlight, reducing the intensity that reaches the active part of the solar cell.

Optical design of a 4-off-axis-unit Cassegrain ultra-high concentrator photovoltaics module with a central receiver.

Ultra-high concentrator photovoltaics (UHCPV), with concentrations higher than 1000 suns, have been pointed out by different authors as having great potential for being a cost-effective PV technology. This Letter presents a UHCPV Cassegrain-based optical design in which the sunrays are concentrated and sent from four different and independent paraboloid-hyperboloid pairs optical units onto a single central receiver. The optical design proposed has the main advantage of the achievement of ultra-high concentration ratios using relative small mirrors with similar performance values of efficiency, acceptance angle, and irradiance uniformity to other designs.