Concentrated photovoltaics (CPV) is a method of concentrating sunlight onto highly effective solar cells using mirrors or lenses. Concentrating light onto the PV cells is one method of boosting the output from solar systems.
Optical light collectors like lenses or mirrors can be used for this. Condensing photovoltaics are the name for the PV systems that make advantage of focused light. The CPV gather light from a wider region and concentrates it onto a solar cell with a smaller surface area.
How efficient in CPV systems?
Although less effective concentrated photovoltaics systems can use silicon, CdTe, and CIGS (copper indium gallium selenide) cells, multi-junction cells have the highest efficiency. Field efficiencies for these multi-junction cells are around 30%, while laboratory testing has seen efficiencies of up to 40%.
What are the types of CPV systems?
Only direct beam radiation—not diffuse radiation—can be employed by the CPV (diffused from clouds and atmosphere). Therefore, places with high direct normal irradiance are the greatest candidates for these systems.
Sun tracking is necessary for getting good cell performance for optimal light concentration. Tracking is especially important for systems with high concentrations. The CPV can often be divided into three concentration categories: low, medium, and high.
Also Read: What is BIPV (Buildingâ€Integrated Photovoltaic)?
Multijunction cells’ ability to capture a significant amount of sunlight necessitates more complex cooling and tracking systems, which could increase energy costs. On the market, CPV technology is anticipated to develop and prosper.
Generally, smaller solar cells are utilized to convert the concentrated light, which means much less expensive PV semiconductor material is used, making CPV technology more cost-effective. Additionally, the system’s optics are composed of glass and typically cost less than the cells themselves.