CPV receiver with high cell efficiency

Although dense array CPV receivers are commercially available, with efficiencies typically at 32% and embedded solar cell efficiencies at 40.8% there is scope to improve both cell efficiency and to reduce the gap between cell and module efficiencies. SOLARX will demonstrate a 45.9% cell efficiency and will address each source of loss at the receiver level by revising each component to improve the receiver’s electrical efficiency by 30% with respect to the state of art (from 32% to 40.7%).

Dense array CPV receivers are commercially available with 32% efficiency at 700x at 25°C with embedded large solar cells (typically 1 cm2 with efficiency of 40.8% at 25°C under 1000x concentration). The main routes to improve dense array receiver’s efficiency are to improve cell efficiency and to reduce the gap between cell and module efficiencies. SOLARX partners, CNRS and UDL will demonstrate a 45.9% cell efficiency and will address each source of loss at the receiver level by revising each component to improve the receiver electrical efficiency by 30% with respect to the state of art (from 32% to 40.7%).

At the beginning of the project, the SOLARX innovations are at TRL2 where the TCVC cells, cooling plate and interconnection concepts have been conceptualised, modelled and in some cases validated but not demonstrated experimentally. By applying proven adaption processes for dense array receiver assembly, SOLARX will bring the innovations to TRL3 and to TRL 4 when its performance will be validated in the lab.