High-Concentration Photovoltaic (HCPV) systems

Amonix is the world's leading designer and manufacturer of proprietary High Concentration Photovoltaic (HCPV) power generation systems for large commercial and utility scale applications.The Amonix HCPV product is a fully integrated two-axis tracking system that substantially reduces the cost of solar electricity compared to that generated from conventional one-sun solar systems in usage today.

Amonix High Concentration Photovoltaic (HCPV) system, recognized as the world's most powerful and efficient, employs unique patented technology that converts sunlight to electricity in a pollution-free, cost-effective and highly efficient manner.To achieve these product benefits, Amonix's HCPV systems utilize the following technologies: (more about Amonix Technologies)

Cool Earth Solar has developed breakthrough solar technology that can ultimately produce enough clean energy to address the global energy crisis. This patented concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) technology dramatically reduces the cost and time to develop solar power plants capable of generating massive amounts of clean energy at prices competitive with fossil fuels.
"Our technology, which is the basis for our power plants, is "reshaping solar energy" in a very literal way: Most of today's solar energy systems take the form of flat panels or boxes-with-lenses and require large amounts of heavy, expensive materials. Our inflated solar concentrators, on the other hand, are shaped like balloons and are primarily made of inexpensive and free materials. This design approach radically reduces material requirements as well as our plant deployment costs and time.
Our inflated, balloon-shaped concentrators are key to Cool Earth's innovative design. Each 8-foot-diameter concentrator is made of plastic film-the same kind of plastic film used to bag potato chips, pretzels, and so on-with a transparent upper hemisphere and a reflective lower hemisphere. When inflated with air, the concentrator naturally forms a shape that focuses or concentrates sunlight onto a PV cell placed at the focal point. This means we need fewer cells to produce a lot more electricity. In fact, a single cell in our concentrator generates about 300 to 400 times the electricity of a cell without a concentrator..." more

"Covalent Solar's waveguide photovoltaic, is a module innovation that combines the beneficial features of existing, disparate product solutions without their attendant drawbacks. By utilizing a unique optical collection technique based on waveguides, WPVs enable the reduction in expensive semiconductor components possible with optical concentration without the requirement of tracking and cooling subsystems in a thin-film module-type configuration. By increasing power conversion efficiency without high cost manufacturing, the power output of each solar panel increases compared to thin film modules, reducing installation, maintenance, and overall system cost.

Waveguide photovoltaics are glass sheets doped or coated with emissive materials. The chromophore absorber layer captures sunlight and re-emits it at lower energy. The radiated light is trapped in the waveguide substrate by total internal reflection, the principle that enables fiber optics. The confined light is distributed within the light guide and is coupled to photovoltaic receivers attached to the guide." ... more

Who is Sunengy Pty Ltd?
- Sunengy is a solar power company incorporated in NSW, Australia in 2005. Its vision is to bring viable and affordable solar power to the world.
- Sunengy holds the patent for a unique, revolutionary, floating-on-water, Liquid Solar Array (LSA) solar technology system in Australia, Canada, Singapore, South Africa, Russia, Israel, USA, Malaysia, Japan and China. The patent is currently pending in 12 other countries.

"The problem: reducing the high cost of traditional CPV solar systems to encourage more use
- Traditional solar Concentrated Photovoltaic (CPV) technology has been around for years but it remains expensive.
- CPV has great potential for cost reductions in solar power as it uses much less semiconductor material than the standard flat-plate PV, but other aspects have limited its usage.
- Sunengy looked behind the reasons for the high cost. Traditional systems require expensive structures to withstand periodic strong winds and also require significant land acquisition. The LSA avoids these.
- When located on and combined with hydroelectric dams, LSA provides the breakthroughs of reduced cost and “on demand” 24/7 availability that are necessary for solar power to become more widely used.

How does it work?
- It uses traditional Concentrator Photovoltaic (CPV) technology – a lens and a small area of solar cells that tracks the sun throughout the day, like a sunflower.
- Floating the system on water reduces the need for expensive supporting structures to protect it from high winds. The lenses submerge in winds above 60km/hr and the water also cools the cells which increases their efficiency.
- LSA can tap into the existing power grid of the dam and is effectively cyclone proof.
- LSA turns a dam into a very large battery by supplying a significant amount of the site's daytime power output from the solar collectors, keeping the water in reserve." ... more

The Sunflower concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) system integrates photovoltaic modules, advanced tracking, unique power optimization, an embedded controller and wireless communication into one elegant solution to produce cost-competitive solar power while reducing installation and maintenance costs.

The Sunflower uses a proprietary Fresnel lens to focus the sun's rays onto a very small piece of photovoltaic material. Our PV cells are among the most efficient in the world with over 35% efficiency. They are composed of three photovoltaic junctions, each of which responds to a different wavelength of light, enabling our cells to produce far more energy than traditional single-layer silicon-based cells. Each cell is backed by a set of aluminum cooling fins that use natural air flow to keep the cell at a low operating temperature despite the concentration levels

In order for a high-concentration solar concentrator to work, the lens must be pointed directly at the sun. This requires a tracking system that moves the module in two axes. Our product tracks the sun by moving in altitude (distance above the horizon) and azimuth (the angle across the horizon). The integrated, two-axis, closed-loop tracking system monitors the energy output of the system and uses that information to adjust the positions of the modules for maximum yield without the need for separate sensors." more

"GreenVolts' concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) solution is a state-of-the-art technology designed to achieve the highest solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency through an innovative integration of optics and solar tracking. Similar to central station power plants, GreenVolts' technology enables a low levelized cost of energy, and yet it can be built close to load, further increasing efficiency and reducing costs.

"NREL is partnering with GreenVolts to commercialize the Inverted Metamorphic (IMM) advanced multi-junction solar cell design. Through its Technology Commercialization and Deployment Fund, the U.S. Department of Energy has committed $500,000 for GreenVolts to co-develop NREL's patents and bring this new technology to market." more

" Absolicon X10 A new era in solar energy has been initiated through the launch of Absolicon X10. The revolutionary idea behind our product is with a cost effective and unique design concentrate the sunlight in order to produce electricity and heat simultaneous. The technology that Absolicon has developed combining photovoltaic cells and a solar collector is called Double Solar Technology and is the result of many years of research and testing.

With the X10 you only need one solar system in order to produce electricity and heat. Thereby X10 optimizes the use of the space on for example roof tops where the module can be installed, at the same time we dramatically reduce installation costs as less cable and piping is required. In addition to this the X10 includes a solar tracking and control system (PLC) device with electrical custom-designed high quality linear actuators which automatically turns the X10 against the sun, and with the help of built-in temperature sensors it ensures that the solar system never will be overheated.

The X10 construction is optimized for installations larger than 20m2. The X10 is offered in four different lengths; 6, 10, 14 and 18 meters. These different lengths can be linked together in series for installations without any surface restrictions, i.e. everything between 20m2 - 100 000 m2 are possible installations with the X10. Our products are very well applied where the properties have a high consumption of hot water like for example hotels, hospitals, industries, sport-centers, airports and apartment-complexes" more

"Pacific SolarTech is the world leader in developing and manufacturing concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) modules, for applications from utility-scale solar power plants to remote-power and grid-connected power systems. PST offers a line of products with the MicroPVTM moniker. The concentrator PV module (MicroPVTM made by PST) is a milestone in the concentrator PV industry. This successful breakthrough in concentrator PV module manufacturing makes the dream of affordable solar power a reality.

The affordable solar power era is coming. PST uses advanced dome-shaped lenses to concentrate sunlight 10 times onto small area solar cells (only one tenth of the lens size). For every 7 watts produced the solar cell consumes only 1 watt. This technique greatly reduces the requisite amount of silicon. It offers needed relief in today's high-priced, silicone-short environment. PST is able to use semiconductor-level silicon, which is highly competitive with that of the semiconductor industry.

And our advanced passive cooling design used with the MicroPVTM CPV dissipates heat much more effectively than conventional flat panel PV modules. PST's senior management team and staff were well trained in the automotive industry. They have successfully adapted the quality assurance process from the automotive industry to the concentrator PV industry. Resultantly, they have created and produced extremely reliable, ultra high quality CPV products." more

"The key to HPC Film is its ability to collect energy from all directions, over 360 degrees. Direct, diffuse, low angle and reflected energy is concentrated onto smaller, or fewer, solar cells, which lets HPC solar modules produce more kilowatt hours, through longer periods of the day and season, without expensive mechanical tracking systems.
360-degree collection enables HPC solar modules to operate close to peak efficiency in low light conditions. In the chart below, the yellow bars show the amount of light available annually in a typical, temperate region (Columbus, OH). Lower light levels are at the left, with full sun (a condition almost never reached) at the far right." more

"A Toronto-based, solar-energy start-up, Morgan Solar Inc. was founded in 2007 to develop next generation solar power technologies that will make solar energy significantly less expensive. Our first product to market is the Sun Simba, a patented Concentrated Photovoltaic (CPV) system currently optimized for ground-mounted applications. Based on the principle of Total Internal Reflection (TIR), the Sun Simba achieves one of the solar industry's highest sunlight-to-electricity conversions, in the most compact, low cost form to date."

REVOLUTIONARY OPTICS:
ENTIRELY NEW WAYS OF CONCENTRATING SOLAR ENERGY

"At its core, Morgan Solar is an optical technology company. All of our solar modules are based on a simple set of concepts about how sunlight behaves and how it can be captured and transported. Founded by John Paul Morgan, a physicist with a background in optics, condensed matter, and medical imaging, Morgan Solar is developing a portfolio of groundbreaking photovoltaic products based on our non-imaging optical innovations. The first to market, the Sun Simba, is made possible by the Light-guide Solar Optic (LSO), our novel concentrator. As the first planar concentrating optic, the LSO elegantly solves the problems of cost, materials, and complexity associated with existing Concentrated Photovoltaic (CPV) solar modules based on lenses, mirrors, or prisms. By simplifying the optical concentration process, Morgan Solar has created a fundamental disruption in solar energy." more

"Xtreme Energetics (XE) is developing a new approach to large scale concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) solar power for use in desert central utilities and commercial rooftops and facades. The technology, called "XE-CPV", offers the highest energy return per unit area of any renewable energy technology, and has the potential to be scaled up to meet a significant fraction of our national and global power needs. XE-CPV panels combine innovative patented, or patent-pending, advances in solar concentrators, trackers, and photovoltaic cells and will also be equipped, eventually, with on-panel storage to make the system a viable source of baseload power. Their predominant transparency also allows architects to design in color and low-power lighting effects to facade-mounted panels.

Xtreme Energetics' Advantages
- Uses built-in electronic trackers (eTrackers) to maximize the power per unit of land utilized.
- Very high area-efficiency and smart resource utilizationmakes massive scale-up feasible.
- eTrackers eliminate wind loading, increase reliability, and allow versatile deployments.
- Uses the highest efficiency solar cells available delivering more power per unit area.
- Distributed micro-concentrator design lowers heat load and increases efficiency.
- On-panel storage will provide baseload power and displace fossil fuel use.
- Uses thin, low-loss, solar concentrators to minimize lens cost and losses.
- Transparent concentrator allows architectural coloration to be added.
- Robotically cleanable solar panels reduce maintenance costs.
- In Summary: More Energy. Less Area. Lower Cost." more

"Our mission is to provide solar energy generation at a cost equal to or better than traditional electric generation from natural gas, oil, and even coal. To achieve this goal, we've developed technology that eliminates the cost barriers to solar energy production.
Concentrated Photovoltaics (CPV)
High costs have been the roadblock keeping solar from realizing its potential. Concentrating Photovoltaics (CPV) technology, which concentrates a large amount of sunlight onto a small amount of active solar material, seeks to overcome the issues. CPV technology is increasingly recognized as the most promising technology to drive solar energy generation to cost-parity with energy generated using fossil fuels. " more

"Solar Systems is a world leader in electricity production from concentrated photovoltaic power plants using dense array converter technology.

The CS500 has 112 curved reflecting mirrors mounted on a steel frame, which tracks the sun throughout the day. The combination of mirror profile, mounting framework and solar receiver are carefully designed to deliver concentrated sunlight energy to each PV module. The tracking mechanism maximises the amount of electricity produced.

The heart of the system is an array of close-packed PV cells that are located in the solar receiver, suspended above the focus of the mirrors. The cells are mounted in a way that allows efficient dissipation of thermal energy as well as extraction of electricity. Since PV performance falls by around 1.7% for every 10°C rise in cell temperature and the sunlight is concentrated 500x, effective cooling is critical to achieve efficient performance. The module also incorporates electrical connections to deliver DC output as well as current and temperature sensors for real-time monitoring." more

"Power Solutions using EMCORE Concentrator Photovoltaic Arrays (CPV) Using optical lenses and mirrors we concentrate the sunlight onto a very small, highly efficient Multi-Junction solar cell. For example, under 500-sun concentration, 1 cm2 of solar cell area produces the same electricity as 500 cm2 would, without concentration. This is particularly significant when considering the inherent efficiency advantage of the Multi-Junction technology over Silicon solar cells The use of concentration, therefore, allows substitution of cost-effective materials such as lenses and mirrors for the more costly semiconductor PV cell material.EMCORE's Multi- Junction Solar Cell Technology Adapted to Terrestrial Power Generation High efficiency Multi-Junction cells have a significant advantage over conventional silicon cells in concentrator systems because fewer solar cells are required to achieve the same power output." more

" Based on our award-winning Optica technology, our new ClearPower PV module product line delivers 3x concentration without tracking or moving parts, uses far less PV than traditional modules and is "see-through" – all while maintaining high-efficiency power output.

A simpler, more affordable, more attractive solar module. With Optica technology at its core, our ClearPower PV module product line is the outcome of many advances in solar panel design, engineering and manufacturing. The result - a module with dramatic advantages over traditional solar panels.

Clear "See-through" Aesthetics - Blends With Architecture Unlike conventional modules, ClearPower modules are see-through. "Black rectangles" are a thing of the past. ClearPower modules let the color and texture of the roof show through, blending in beautifully with the existing architecture.

3x Concentration - Less PV, No Maintenance ClearPower modules use our innovative Optica technology to deliver 3x concentration without the need for complicated, high-maintenance tracking systems or moving parts. Using 1/3rd the PV, our modules deliver the same power per square area as conventional modules using the cells of equivalent efficiency.

Simplified Installation - Faster, Less Expensive ClearPower modules use standard installation practices (no special training required) and allow for direct-to-roof application, saving installation time and costly materials and simplifying the installation by eliminating the need for racking. " more

Using SUNRGI's proprietary technology it is possible to produce large amounts of electricity from solar radiation at a wholesale price of US $0.05/kWh

"Solar power at 5 cents per kWh would be a world-changing breakthrough. It would make solar generation of electricity as affordable as generation from coal, natural gas or other non-renewable sources, without requiring any subsidy

SUNRGI has created a new solar energy system that will soon make it possible to produce electricity at a wholesale cost of 5-cents per kWh (kilowatt hour), a price that is competitive with the wholesale cost of producing electricity using fossil fuels and a fraction of the current cost of solar energy. The system is called Xtreme Concentrated Photovoltaics or XCPV.

Virtually everyone has used a magnifying glass to focus sunlight down to a small, very bright, hot spot of light. SUNRGI uses this same principle in its Xtreme Concentrated Photovoltaics (XCPV) system (patents pending). SUNRGI efficiently concentrates sunlight so that it is more than 1,600 times brighter than the sun. This concentrated sunlight is focused onto photovoltaic (PV) solar cells that convert more than 37% of the sunlight directly into electricity." more

A revolutionary new low cost high efficiency HCPV system

Light-Guide Solar Optic (LSO), a thin optical structure made from simple acrylic and glass components that internally concentrates sunlight. The concentrated sunlight is redirected onto small photovoltaic cells attached at the centre of the optic

" The Sun Simba HCPV is a revolutionary new low cost High Concentrated Photovoltaic (HCPV) system based on the proprietary Light-guide Solar Optic (LSO). This product is not yet available, and is still in the prototype and testing stage of development. We expect the Sun Simba HCPV to be available for in the beginning of 2010. Check our blog for progress updates and other details.

Each Sun Simba HCPV panel is comprised of a row of 5 mm thick LSO optics, coupled to multi-junction photovoltaic cells. The panels are supported by a thin aluminum spine. A complete module is made up of panels arranged into two uneven levels called the Staggered Row design.

Modules comprise a few pounds of aluminum and optical material (principally acrylic), some electronics and tiny slivers of multi-junction photovoltaic cells. By eliminating almost everything that isn't concentrating light or converting it into electricity, we've developed a lightweight, easy to assemble system that can be built at a fraction of the costs of competing photovoltaic systems." more

"Entech Solar's SolarVolt system is based on proprietary concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) technology that produces cost-competitive electricity. With over 25 years of experience, Entech's SolarVolt system is one of the few successfully demonstrated systems in the industry today.
Benefits:
Low-Cost
By concentrating the sun 20X, reduces silicon requirements by 95% compared to traditional PV systems.
Reliable Production Performance
Superior optical design of lens results in high error tolerance, enabling reliable, continuous production of energy even in the harshest environment.
Proven Performance and Reliability
Over 25 years of product development and successful field performance
Fixed Hedge Against Electricity
Minimizes customer's vulnerability to increasing, volatile electricity prices... " more

HE Optics System
Sunlight first meets the HE Optics System at its specially designed and patented, short focal-length, acrylic concentrating lens. As the rays pass through the lens, the light reflects and refracts, raising the sunlight concentration to 6,500 suns on a small pinpoint of light. A secondary optic, with its specially manufactured glass body, captures this pinpoint and deposits the concentrated solar flux evenly on a small multi-junction PV cell. Together, the elements produce 800 times more electricity than a similarly-sized silicon solar cell.

solar tracking:
Regardless of season or time of day, Pyron Solar efficiently tracks the sun. A platform with multiple arrays, floating close to each other in shallow, evaporation-retardant water, rotate around its vertical axis with the azimuthal travel of the sun. A special gear activates a linkage to allow each floating module to track solar elevation by tilting up and down as needed. The linkages are powered by three small 6-watt motors, the same size used in children's toys." more

"The ZenithSolar optical dish is based on a patented design, utilizing multiple simple flat mirrors mounted on a plastic surface. The molded plastic surface, divided into four quadrants, is fixed onto a rigid, high precision metal frame assembled onto an azimuth - elevation solar tracking system.

The concentrated solar radiation is reflected from each individual mirror onto an array of solar cells. ZenithSolar uses field proven high efficiency multi-junction III-V solar cells.

In conventional CPV systems, the excess heat generated in the solar cell needs to be removed to avoid damaging the cell and to maintain high efficiency of electricity conversion. ZenithSolar utilizes the heat generated at the solar cell receiver to provide usable hot water heating, improving overall solar power conversion efficiency to 75%" more

As the solar industry matures customers value energy yield and cost more than peak "nameplate" rating. High Gain Solar (HGS) describes a series of system level design attributes which drive lower installed cost and higher energy yield relative to traditional fixed tilt PV.

"The movement to HGS started with the adoption of high efficiency silicon cells and tracking which increases energy yield and it now includes reflective materials, lower cost panels, convection cooling, string & shadow management, streamlined installation and maintenance. Systems which combine one or more of these attributes are considered to be high gain.

Skyline's Approach
Building on proven solar technology, Skyline's patented HGS architecture provides the energy cost of thin film with the performance and reliability of leading silicon PV. The architecture is also engineered for scalability, drawing on proven materials and traditional manufacturing processes available on a vast scale." more

JX Crystals champions Thermo and Solar Photovoltaic products that work together to generate heat and electricity throughout the year, day and night, by combining renewable solar energy with the most efficient use of fossil fuels. Our product designs are based on operation at high power densities where PV cells are most efficient and with materials chosen to cover the broad energy spectrum from visible sunlight to infrared heat.

"JX Crystals is a spin-off from the Boeing Company with licenses for key patents on IR sensitive Gallium Antimonide photovoltaic cells. JXC broadened the usefulness of GaSb cells to include not only efficiency boosting aerospace solar cells but also Thermo PV cells and TPV Combined Heat and Power systems. JXC

has established a strong patent position in TPV technology and is currently seeking investors and strategic partners to develop a 1.5 KWe residential home cogeneration system that can supply heat, hot water and electricity from natural gas or propane.JXC has an international patent position on a novel, low cost Solar PV module design and has started manufacturing product in China for 500 kW projects there in 2006 and then for the Global Market. The design is a low concentration 3 Sun approach that replaces 2/3 of the expensive crystalline solar cells in a module with low cost metal mirrors. JXC

sees this effort as a first evolutionary step toward the ultimate goal of high efficiency and high concentration for utility scale PV power generation.JXC is also doing R&D on 40% efficiency solar cells and systems, including a new cassegrainian concentrator concept with distinct advantages for 4 junction PV stacks. High concentration and efficiency go hand-in-hand toward full scale utility power generation that will be cost competitive with fossil fuels." more

Delivering clean, green, 1,370 sun concentration CPV SunCube^TM Energy Farms at A$0.060* to A$0.085* / Ac kWh

without feed-in tariffs, installation rebates, carbon taxes or RECs.

6,650 Ac kWhs / year, 18.2 Ac kWhs / day, 10 x SunCube^TM system"

"Smart Cut, today the industry standard, is Soitec's proprietary engineered wafer technology. Based on CVD techniques, Smart Cut technology's revolutionary wafer bonding and layer splitting processes made it possible to transfer a thin layer of crystalline material from a donor substrate to another substrate, overcoming physical limitations and changing the face of the substrate industry.

Most of today's industry-leading SOI wafers destined for chip manufacturing are made by wafer suppliers using the Smart Cut technology. The Smart Cut technology is also behind the development of new families of standard and custom engineered wafers.

The Smart Cut technology was developed by Michel Bruel at CEA-Leti, one of the world's premier microelectronics research laboratories. The technology was made viable for high-volume commercial production by Soitec, and is now protected by more than 2,000 Soitec-owned or controlled patents worldwide. Soitec leverages the Smart Cut technology to fabricate engineered wafers for the world’s leading chipmakers, and holds exclusive rights to use and license this technology to third-party materials and process suppliers. Japanese silicon supplier Shin Etsu Handotai was the first company to license the Smart Cut technology."

"HyperSolar is developing a breakthrough technology to produce renewable hydrogen and natural gas using sunlight, water and carbon dioxide. These renewable gases can be used as direct replacements for traditional hydrogen and natural gas to power the world, without fracking, drilling or CO2 emissions.

Inspired by photosynthetic processes that plants use to effortlessly harness the power of the Sun, we are developing a novel solar-powered nanoparticle system that mimics photosynthesis to separate hydrogen from water. The free hydrogen can then be reacted with carbon dioxide to produce methane.

Our scientific team has several decades of combined experience studying the science and economic viability of renewable hydrogen production from water. Making hydrogen is the most important part of the renewable natural gas challenge. To be cost competitive with conventional natural gas, which is simply extracted from the ground, a new technology such as ours to "manufacture" natural gas must exhibit low capital costs and low operating costs.

Our breakthrough technology was conceived using real world economic constraints learned from DOE hydrogen research projects and techno-economic studies. The result is an elegant solution that features the following:
- Solar Power - Just like plants and microorganism that sustain life effortless by using the power of the Sun, the only input energy to our system is free and unlimited solar energy.
- Bio-inspired Nanoparticle - By studying the core solar conversion and chemical reactions inside plant leaves, we have designed a solid-state photoelectrochemical nanostructure that contains all the core elements needed to mimic photosynthesis to extract hydrogen from water using solar energy.
- Lower Cost Manufacturing - Using innovative chemical engineering techniques based on molecular self-assembly, we are designing low cost processes to manufacturing these nanoparticles.
- Wastewater Feedstock and Valuable Byproduct - Instead of using pure water, a very expensive starting point, we are optimizing our technology to work with wastewater containing organic molecules of all kinds, such as municipal and industrial wastewater. Our process photo-oxidizes (detoxifies) wastewater to simultaneously produce molecular hydrogen and clean water. Waste steams containing acids, such as hydrogen bromide and hydrogen chloride from industrial facilities, can be processed to produce pure bromine and chlorine, which are valuable and marketable
- Highly Scalable System - Our nanoparticles are self-contained solar powered systems. Just like plant leaves lying under the Sun, billions of our nanoparticles can float in low cost transparent wastewater vessels all independently bubbling up renewable hydrogen and natural gas. If one nanoparticle fails, there are many more that will continue working. To increase the scale of this system, we simply add more vessels and more nanoparticles."