solucar hiconpv ses6-ct-2003-502626 hicon pv project overview

SOLUCARHiconPV SES6-CT-2003-502626

Hicon PV

Project Overview


1. The Hicon PV Project

Project Name: High Concentration Photovoltaic Power

System Project Acronym:

Hicon PVContract Number:

SES6-CT-2003-502626

Total budget: 4.899.616 €.EC contribution: 2.699.924 €Project duration: 36 months. Start date: 01/01/2004. End date: 31/12/2006


2. The Consortium

9 Partners:


3. Aim of the Project

Develop, set up and test a new high concentration (1000x) PV system with a large-area III-V receiver.

…by integrating two technology fields:

– The high concentration of the sunlight will be obtained using technologies experienced in solar thermal systems like parabolic dishes or tower systems.

– The receiver is based on the III-V solar cell technology.


4. Project Objectives

• Develop, set up and test a new high concentration PV system with a large-area III-V-receiver (1000x)

• Single-junction GaAs solar cells for highly concentrating applications • Reach 20% efficiency for the full MIM (Monolithic Integrated Module)

• 3 Compact Concentrator Modules (CCM) as prototypes for field-testing, each around 2 kWp from a module area of about 100 cm²

• High-efficient concentrating photovoltaic system cost goal of 1 €/Wp by 2015

• Cost goal for the concentrator is 100 €/m2

• Cost goal: 200’000 €/m2 for solar modules including heat sink, taking into account the future improvements with multi-junction cells


III–V solar cell concept

• Silicon Cells:– Restricted to a concentration factor of less than 500x and

to a module efficiencies of about 20%

• III-V GaAs Cells:– Allow higher concentration ratios

and much higher efficiencies– Traditionally used in space

applications

Integrated bypass diode - patent pending

p type GaAs n type GaAs tunnel junction

semi-insulating GaAssubstrate

•current path in shaded segments

Integrated bypass diode - patent pending







5. The receiver


The monolithic interconnected modules (MIMs)

• Very high current densities under 1000x concentrated sunlight• 28 A / cm2 2800 A on 10 x10 cm2• Small solar cells required to reduce current• Large chips are required for the interconnection in CCM

Solution: MIMs

1 cm

2.4 cm

1.6

cm

1 cm2 chip

3.9 cm2 MIM chip


The compact concentrator module (CCM)

Assembly• MIMs mounted on:

- ceramic strips - directly on ceramic heat sink

• Water cooling system• Highly silver loaded adhesive • 24 MIMs in 6 rows • C = 1000X• VOC 120 V per row up to 720 V per

receiver


The compact concentrator module (CCM)

Performance

MIMs• Average efficiency:

18.3 % @ C=1000

Complete Receiver• Projected efficiency

C = 1000, T=25°Ch = 16.0 %


6. The concentrator

• Solar tower systems- Problems with the cosine effect factor and with flux variability during the year

- Spillage losses

• Parabolic dishes- Stable flux during year but problems with flux gradients

• Solution- Spherical dish with flux homogenizer

Two options:


Parabolic Dish Spherical Dish with homogeneizer

Flux Distribution


Construction of the prototype


The prototype


Results

• MIMs characterization tests

7. Tests. PSA solar furnace


Results

• CCM characterization tests

7. Tests. PSA solar furnace


8. The Concentrator. Last steps in the project.

1. Flux Measurement (From December)

– Flux characterization in the receiver with the flux former

– Flux characterization with shadowing of mirrors


The Tailored Concentrator + CCM

2. Concentrator and Receiver Integration


The Hicon PV Concentrator. Further Improvements

• CCM:– After second CCM design, with single junction MIMs…

Further options:• Reducing series resistance losses• Reducing the width of the grid fingers and bus bars• Reducing or sacrificing the bypass diode• Development of a frameless heat sink and a

mounting procedure with narrow gaps

– Next generation MIM CCM, with tandem MIMs… better efficiency at lower currents



• Concentrator

From hexagonal and small mirrors

To Square and big mirrors



• Concentrator

– From glass to plastic30€/m2

– To the 120m2 heliostat concept

solucar hiconpv ses6-ct-2003-502626 hicon pv project overview

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