SOLUCARHiconPV SES6-CT-2003-502626
Hicon PV
Project Overview
SOLUCARHiconPV SES6-CT-2003-502626
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
SOLUCARHiconPV SES6-CT-2003-502626
2. The Consortium
9 Partners:
SOLUCARHiconPV SES6-CT-2003-502626
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.
SOLUCARHiconPV SES6-CT-2003-502626
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
SOLUCARHiconPV SES6-CT-2003-502626
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
p type GaAs n type GaAs tunnel junction
semi-insulating GaAssubstrate
•current path in shaded segments
p type GaAs n type GaAs tunnel junction
semi-insulating GaAssubstrate
•current path in shaded segments
5. The receiver
SOLUCARHiconPV SES6-CT-2003-502626
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
SOLUCARHiconPV SES6-CT-2003-502626
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
SOLUCARHiconPV SES6-CT-2003-502626
The compact concentrator module (CCM)
Performance
MIMs• Average efficiency:
18.3 % @ C=1000
Complete Receiver• Projected efficiency
C = 1000, T=25°Ch = 16.0 %
SOLUCARHiconPV SES6-CT-2003-502626
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:
SOLUCARHiconPV SES6-CT-2003-502626
Parabolic Dish Spherical Dish with homogeneizer
Flux Distribution
SOLUCARHiconPV SES6-CT-2003-502626
Construction of the prototype
SOLUCARHiconPV SES6-CT-2003-502626
The prototype
SOLUCARHiconPV SES6-CT-2003-502626
Results
• MIMs characterization tests
7. Tests. PSA solar furnace
SOLUCARHiconPV SES6-CT-2003-502626
Results
• CCM characterization tests
7. Tests. PSA solar furnace
SOLUCARHiconPV SES6-CT-2003-502626
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
SOLUCARHiconPV SES6-CT-2003-502626
The Tailored Concentrator + CCM
2. Concentrator and Receiver Integration
SOLUCARHiconPV SES6-CT-2003-502626
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
SOLUCARHiconPV SES6-CT-2003-502626
The Hicon PV Concentrator. Further Improvements
• Concentrator
From hexagonal and small mirrors
To Square and big mirrors
SOLUCARHiconPV SES6-CT-2003-502626
The Hicon PV Concentrator. Further Improvements
• Concentrator
– From glass to plastic30€/m2
– To the 120m2 heliostat concept
SOLUCARHiconPV SES6-CT-2003-502626
SOLUCARHiconPV SES6-CT-2003-502626
SOLUCARHiconPV SES6-CT-2003-502626