Significant cost reduction through new optical, thermal, and structural design for a medium-CPV system

Marc Finot; Bob MacDonald

doi:10.1117/12.894187

19 September 2011 Significant cost reduction through new optical, thermal, and structural design for a medium-CPV system

Marc Finot, Bob MacDonald

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8108, High and Low Concentrator Systems for Solar Electric Applications VI; 81080B (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.894187
Event: SPIE Solar Energy + Technology, 2011, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The design of cost-efficient medium-concentration PV (MCPV) systems requires the analysis of dozens of engineering, manufacturing and financial trade-offs. In 2007, Skyline Solar designed its first system, the HGS1000, based on a 7x concentration factor and 0.5 m aperture width. At the then-current cost of components, this was the optimum design. However, as the cost of silicon cells has fallen and the efficiency of cells has improved, the least-cost point has moved. This paper explains how we used the combination of field data and advanced performance modeling to re-optimize the design for lowest levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and achieve 40% cost reduction.x=14&up

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Marc Finot and Bob MacDonald "Significant cost reduction through new optical, thermal, and structural design for a medium-CPV system", Proc. SPIE 8108, High and Low Concentrator Systems for Solar Electric Applications VI, 81080B (19 September 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.894187

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