High-Concentrator Photovoltaic Power Plants: Energy Balance and Case Studies

Abstract

High-concentrator photovoltaic (HCPV) power plants are inherently different from conventional photovoltaic (PV) power sources due to the use of concentrator modules and two-axis solar trackers. HCPV technology is a relatively new energy source; therefore, there is limited experience in its application in power plants. Bearing this in mind, this chapter aims to provide information about the special features and performance of HCPV power plants under real operating conditions. The analysis of current concentrator modules and solar trackers is addressed to achieve a better understanding of the main characteristics of this kind of systems. In addition, different methods for estimating the energy yield of an HCPV system or power plant are discussed. This is a crucial task to analyse the potential of such emerging technology. Finally, several HCPV power plants and relevant data concerning their energy yield and performance ratio (PR) are described and commented.

Optical Modelling and Phylogenetic Analysis Provide Clues to the Likely Function of Corneal Nipple Arrays in Butterflies and Moths

“…The multilayer model of varying refractive index layers (giving a gradient refractive index as shown in Figure 1c–f) was simulated in Breaults ASAP software [24] to give reflectance measurements (Figure 1f). This simulation assumed normal incident light with a divergence angle of ± 0.27° to match that of the sun, originating from a thermal source similar to the sun with a full range of weighted wavelengths for realistic sunlight properties [25]. All real material has a refractive dispersion relationship, where the refractive index of a material changes depending on the incident wavelength.…”

Development of a Utility Model for the Measurement of Global Radiation in Photovoltaic Applications in the Internet of Things (IoT)

“…Knowing the global radiation received by photovoltaic systems is necessary for its design and for the evaluation of its energy productivity [24], as well as knowing its economic profitability. To carry out initial studies of the energy behavior of a photovoltaic installation, it is usually sufficient to know the monthly averages of global radiation.…”

Hybrid photovoltaic-thermoelectric system using a novel spectral splitting solar concentrator

“…The main challenge facing those technologies is to convert solar radiation efficiently and cost-effectively. STCs and STEs convert less than 25% and 5%, respectively, of sunlight to electricity [2,4], whereas commercial PV cells can convert about 10-25% (or 10-47% for laboratory cells) of sunlight to electricity [1,5]. It is possible to combine PVs with thermal or TE generators as hybrid energy systems to increase the conversion efficiency of sunlight [3].…”

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