Soltec & Fraunhofer ISE Collectively Develop Price-Aggressive Prototype for Subsequent-Technology Concentrating Photovoltaics

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Concentrator photovoltaics (CPV) might as soon as once more turn into an economically enticing and high-efficient PV know-how for areas with excessive direct photo voltaic irradiance. To leverage its benefits, Fraunhofer Institute for Photo voltaic Power Techniques ISE and Soltec have partnered to develop a prototype of a two-axis tracker which is designed to easily combine with Fraunhofer ISE’s newest micro-CPV know-how. Soltec and Fraunhofer ISE plan to put in a primary prototype in Spain by the tip of 2024.

Soltec is a vertically built-in firm specializing within the manufacturing of photo voltaic trackers for large-scale tasks. Fraunhofer ISE has an extended historical past in analysis on III-V and concentrator photovoltaics. The newest micro-CPV know-how of the institute reaches 36 % conversion effectivity and results in a 30 % improve in power yield in comparison with typical PV options.

The collaboration goals to make use of the superior photo voltaic tracker know-how of Soltec and adapt it particularly to the necessities of a brand new technology of Fraunhofer ISE’s micro-CPV modules which function at a focus of practically 1000 suns. The micro-CPV modules place stringent necessities on monitoring accuracy alongside two axes since they have to at all times level precisely to the solar all through the day with the intention to obtain the utmost electrical energy technology.

“We’re making ready the trail for the reentry of high-concentration photovoltaics into the market by providing a aggressive product which shall persuade traders with its excessive power yield, robustness and sustainability.” stated Dr. Frank Dimroth, division head of III-V and Concentrator Photovoltaics at Fraunhofer ISE. “Useful resource effectivity is changing into an more and more necessary subject in photovoltaics. In comparison with the state-of-the-art, our micro-CPV know-how reduces module areas by 30 % and semiconductor supplies by 1300 instances at comparable energy output. This helps to protected valuable supplies and power within the manufacturing course of and due to this fact improves sustainability.”

“This collaboration between Soltec and Fraunhofer ISE confirms the imaginative and prescient of each establishments. We stay up for persevering with our collaboration sooner or later to additional elevate using photo voltaic power. These developments not solely characterize a step ahead in photovoltaic photo voltaic power but additionally broaden its utility potentialities throughout varied sectors,” stated Eduardo de San Nicolás, Chief Technique and Innovation Officer at Soltec.

The primary prototype will probably be used to check the precision of monitoring accuracy all through the day. In a later stage, the system could be geared up with 15.7 kWp of micro-CPV panels. The event of the micro-CPV module itself is a part of a analysis challenge at Fraunhofer ISE supported by the Federal Ministry of Financial Affairs and Local weather Motion (BMWK).

Courtesy of Fraunhofer ISE and Soltec.

See extra analysis on concentrating PV at Fraunhofer ISE.