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High-concentration planar microtracking photovoltaic system exceeding 30% efficiency

Author

Listed:
  • Jared S. Price

    (The Pennsylvania State University, University Park)

  • Alex J. Grede

    (The Pennsylvania State University, University Park)

  • Baomin Wang

    (The Pennsylvania State University, University Park)

  • Michael V. Lipski

    (The Pennsylvania State University, University Park)

  • Brent Fisher

    (Semprius Inc.)

  • Kyu-Tae Lee

    (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

  • Junwen He

    (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

  • Gregory S. Brulo

    (The Pennsylvania State University, University Park)

  • Xiaokun Ma

    (The Pennsylvania State University, University Park)

  • Scott Burroughs

    (Semprius Inc.)

  • Christopher D. Rahn

    (The Pennsylvania State University, University Park)

  • Ralph G. Nuzzo

    (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

  • John A. Rogers

    (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

  • Noel C. Giebink

    (The Pennsylvania State University, University Park)

Abstract

Prospects for concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) power are growing as the market increasingly values high power conversion efficiency to leverage now-dominant balance of system and soft costs. This trend is particularly acute for rooftop photovoltaic power, where delivering the high efficiency of traditional CPV in the form factor of a standard rooftop photovoltaic panel could be transformative. Here, we demonstrate a fully automated planar microtracking CPV system 660× concentration ratio over a 140∘ full field of view. In outdoor testing over the course of two sunny days, the system operates automatically from sunrise to sunset, outperforming a 17%-efficient commercial silicon solar cell by generating >50% more energy per unit area per day in a direct head-to-head competition. These results support the technical feasibility of planar microtracking CPV to deliver a step change in the efficiency of rooftop solar panels at a commercially relevant concentration ratio.

Suggested Citation

  • Jared S. Price & Alex J. Grede & Baomin Wang & Michael V. Lipski & Brent Fisher & Kyu-Tae Lee & Junwen He & Gregory S. Brulo & Xiaokun Ma & Scott Burroughs & Christopher D. Rahn & Ralph G. Nuzzo & Joh, 2017. "High-concentration planar microtracking photovoltaic system exceeding 30% efficiency," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 2(8), pages 1-7, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natene:v:2:y:2017:i:8:d:10.1038_nenergy.2017.113
    DOI: 10.1038/nenergy.2017.113
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhou, Ran & Wang, Ruilin & Xing, Chenjian & Sun, Jian & Guo, Yafei & Li, Weiling & Qu, Wanjun & Hong, Hui & Zhao, Chuanwen, 2022. "Design and analysis of a compact solar concentrator tracking via the refraction of the rotating prism," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C).

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