In this work the experimental results of a new PV concentrator (named Rondine®) are presented. This concentrating module has a medium concentration level (∼25×) and employs silicon solar cells. The tests have been carried out in Italy and the energy production of a prototype module is compared with that produced from a tracking flat plate crystalline PV panel. The non‐imaging optics of the concentrator allows for larger angular acceptance with respect to many solar concentrators, giving us the possibility to employ trackers for standard PV modules. The first results of complete systems of 3·9 and 4·8 kW of peak power installed in summer 2008 are presented here. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

No abstract

A method for the optical characterization of a solar concentrator, based on the reverse illumination by a Lambertian source and measurement of intensity of light projected on a far screen, has been developed. It is shown that the projected light intensity is simply correlated to the angle-resolved efficiency of a concentrator, conventionally obtained by a direct illumination procedure. The method has been applied by simulating simple reflective nonimaging and Fresnel lens concentrators.

No abstract

No abstract