Rondine® PV concentrators: Field results and developments

Abstract

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.

Life cycle assessment of high‐concentration photovoltaic systems

“…where A' ¼A ð1:4Þ ð1-0:068Þ ¼ 55:361 m 2 (2) Extrapolating this correlation to Amonix 7700, with a performance loss of 6.8%, yields 144 000 kWh/year of electricity generation for Las Vegas where the DNI with a two axis tracker is 2600 kWh/m 2 /year. The energy generation from this system operating elsewhere is derived likewise, with a minor adjustment for differing environmental conditions such as average site temperature and soiling factor.…”

Microsystems enabled photovoltaics: 14.9% efficient 14μm thick crystalline silicon solar cell

“…Currently, the record for silicon cells under concentration is at 27.6% using a small 1 cm 2 back contacted cell under 92 suns [6]. Small silicon cells of standard thickness are currently used by the industry to create low concentration, low profile modules [7].…”

Development of a mirror‐based LCPV module and test results

“…During the period 2007 to 2012, a specific CPV module was developed by CPower srl, characterized by 20× point focus reflective optics and was called the Rondine® module [4][5][6]. This product was designed to be installed on trackers originally manufactured for traditional, flat-plate PV panels.…”