Concentrating Light On Solar Panels

Csp plants generate electric power by using mirrors to concentrate focus the sun s energy and convert it into high temperature heat.

Concentrating light on solar panels.

Concentrating solar power csp technologies use mirrors to concentrate focus the sun s light energy and convert it into heat to create steam to drive a turbine that generates electrical power. Light concentration while photo voltaic panels are the most appropriate method for capturing light energy in domestic solar power installations for larger scale systems light is usually concentrated to produce heat which in turn is used to generate electricity. Concentrated solar technology systems use mirrors or lenses with tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight onto a small area. Concentrator photovoltaics cpv also known as concentration photovoltaics is a photovoltaic technology that generates electricity from sunlight.

Swiss company insolight has created the most efficient concentrating photovoltaic solar panels cpv a technology that uses lenses to concentrate light onto small solar panels underneath to date. Concentrating solar collectors use shaped mirrors or lens to provide higher temperatures that flat plate collectors. In concentrating photovoltaics cpv a large area of sunlight is focused onto the solar cell with the help of an optical device. After two years of research its created a cpv panel that achieved 29 efficiency verified by the universidad politécnica de madrid.

Unlike conventional photovoltaic systems it uses lenses or curved mirrors to focus sunlight onto small highly efficient multi junction mj solar cells. The pv systems that use concentrated light are called concentrating photovoltaics cpv. Csp technology produces electricity by concentrating and harnessing solar thermal energy using mirrors. By concentrating sunlight onto a small area this technology has three competitive advantages.

As fewer cells are then required for the same area of panel or light capturing area it may then become economical to use a highly efficient multi junction cell. In addition cpv systems often use solar trackers and sometimes a cooling system to further increase their efficiency. This page concentrates on providing links information and plans for build it yourself concentrating collectors and heliostats. The concentrated light is then used as heat or as a heat source for a conventional power plant solar thermoelectricity.

There are three main systems in use. One of the ways to increase the output from the photovoltaic systems is to supply concentrated light onto the pv cells. At a csp installation mirrors reflect the sun to a focal point. Requires less photovoltaic material to capture the same sunlight as non concentrating pv.

Csp technology utilizes focused sunlight. Heliostats are tracking mirrors that reflect solar energy onto a fixed target.