Realizing High Photovoltaic Power Densities With Tracking-Integrated Concentrator Photovoltaics
Concentrating photovoltaics (CPV) have long been held up as a solution to low power density in photovoltaics, but due to the requirement of sun tracking have been largely unable to realize high power densities in practically useful settings. The emerging concept of tracking-integrated CPV, in which...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Energy Research |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenrg.2022.842201/full |
| _version_ | 1818238159401517056 |
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| author | Kareem Younes Harry Apostoleris Majed Bin Saad Amal Al Ghaferi Matteo Chiesa Matteo Chiesa |
| author_facet | Kareem Younes Harry Apostoleris Majed Bin Saad Amal Al Ghaferi Matteo Chiesa Matteo Chiesa |
| author_sort | Kareem Younes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Concentrating photovoltaics (CPV) have long been held up as a solution to low power density in photovoltaics, but due to the requirement of sun tracking have been largely unable to realize high power densities in practically useful settings. The emerging concept of tracking-integrated CPV, in which the sun tracking apparatus is incorporated into the module itself, has the potential to finally achieve this goal by allowing CPV use in building integrated or rooftop settings. In this article, we will provide a status update on TI-CPV and an evaluation of its technical and economic potential with focus on diffuse light collection. We will seek to demonstrate how TI-CPV concepts that are now nearing commercialization are viable to offer, for the first time, the chance for CPV to actually deliver high power densities and high-efficiency utilization of the solar resource in practical settings such that it represents one of the best prospects for CPV to finally gain a foothold in large commercial markets. We identify TI-CPV designs with integrated mechanical tracking and diffuse light transmittance as the closest at resent to commercial feasibility, as the transmitted light offers a potential valuable secondary output. A semi-empirical performance model of such a system yields an annual electrical output of >300 kWh/m2 and 59.4 million lux-hours optical output that are equivalent to 593.4 kWh/m2 if that light would otherwise be provided by LED lamps with 100 lumen/W luminous efficacy. This would indicate that full-system capex of up to $1,600/kW could be viable relative to conventional rooftop PV systems, providing a benchmark for future manufacturing and design improvements. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T12:37:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-18da2c53db8748d882931118b0941855 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-598X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T12:37:13Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Energy Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-18da2c53db8748d882931118b09418552022-12-22T00:24:18ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Energy Research2296-598X2022-06-011010.3389/fenrg.2022.842201842201Realizing High Photovoltaic Power Densities With Tracking-Integrated Concentrator PhotovoltaicsKareem Younes0Harry Apostoleris1Majed Bin Saad2Amal Al Ghaferi3Matteo Chiesa4Matteo Chiesa5Laboratory for Energy and Nano Science, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesLaboratory for Energy and Nano Science, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesLaboratory for Energy and Nano Science, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesLaboratory for Energy and Nano Science, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesLaboratory for Energy and Nano Science, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesDepartment of Physics and Technology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, United Arab EmiratesConcentrating photovoltaics (CPV) have long been held up as a solution to low power density in photovoltaics, but due to the requirement of sun tracking have been largely unable to realize high power densities in practically useful settings. The emerging concept of tracking-integrated CPV, in which the sun tracking apparatus is incorporated into the module itself, has the potential to finally achieve this goal by allowing CPV use in building integrated or rooftop settings. In this article, we will provide a status update on TI-CPV and an evaluation of its technical and economic potential with focus on diffuse light collection. We will seek to demonstrate how TI-CPV concepts that are now nearing commercialization are viable to offer, for the first time, the chance for CPV to actually deliver high power densities and high-efficiency utilization of the solar resource in practical settings such that it represents one of the best prospects for CPV to finally gain a foothold in large commercial markets. We identify TI-CPV designs with integrated mechanical tracking and diffuse light transmittance as the closest at resent to commercial feasibility, as the transmitted light offers a potential valuable secondary output. A semi-empirical performance model of such a system yields an annual electrical output of >300 kWh/m2 and 59.4 million lux-hours optical output that are equivalent to 593.4 kWh/m2 if that light would otherwise be provided by LED lamps with 100 lumen/W luminous efficacy. This would indicate that full-system capex of up to $1,600/kW could be viable relative to conventional rooftop PV systems, providing a benchmark for future manufacturing and design improvements.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenrg.2022.842201/fulltracking integrationbeam steeringbuilding integrated photo voltaic (BIPV)solar energy economicsconcentrator photovoltaics (CPV)PV system modeling |
| spellingShingle | Kareem Younes Harry Apostoleris Majed Bin Saad Amal Al Ghaferi Matteo Chiesa Matteo Chiesa Realizing High Photovoltaic Power Densities With Tracking-Integrated Concentrator Photovoltaics Frontiers in Energy Research tracking integration beam steering building integrated photo voltaic (BIPV) solar energy economics concentrator photovoltaics (CPV) PV system modeling |
| title | Realizing High Photovoltaic Power Densities With Tracking-Integrated Concentrator Photovoltaics |
| title_full | Realizing High Photovoltaic Power Densities With Tracking-Integrated Concentrator Photovoltaics |
| title_fullStr | Realizing High Photovoltaic Power Densities With Tracking-Integrated Concentrator Photovoltaics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Realizing High Photovoltaic Power Densities With Tracking-Integrated Concentrator Photovoltaics |
| title_short | Realizing High Photovoltaic Power Densities With Tracking-Integrated Concentrator Photovoltaics |
| title_sort | realizing high photovoltaic power densities with tracking integrated concentrator photovoltaics |
| topic | tracking integration beam steering building integrated photo voltaic (BIPV) solar energy economics concentrator photovoltaics (CPV) PV system modeling |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenrg.2022.842201/full |
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