Performances of an Innovative HCPV System

26th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition; 702-706
In the framework of the cooperation between ENEA and Pirelli, an innovative HCPV - High Concentration Photovoltaic System - prototype developed by Pirelli has been installed at ENEA-Portici, Italy. The plant includes an aerodynamic profile solar tracker, resistant to strong wind, equipped with 40 HCPV modules, based on the concentration technology developed by Pirelli. The whole system has been developed according to industrial cost considerations; the modules have been designed for being assembled by means of automatic process and components have been developed for being manufactured in the framework of automotive industries. The optical system is a Fresnel-Kohler type developed in the framework of cooperation with LPI (Light Prescription Innovators) a leading company in optical design for CPV system based in Madrid, Spain. It assures optimal performances in terms of efficiency, optical flux homogeneity and acceptance angle. Moreover, it is robust in terms of assembly tolerances. The optical system focuses radiation with a geometrical concentration factor of 576 on a 5.5mm-side III-V solar cell supplied by Emcore. Each module comprises 48 single units, electrically connected in two separated series. Based on optically active area, the efficiency of the module is as high as 28%, with typical efficiency values of 26.5%. Typical module acceptance angle of 1.2° is measured. Nominal module power @850W/m2, 25°C, is 167Wp. Modules have been installed on Pirelli solar tracker, developed according to Eurocodes standards for civil structures; they are connected in 4 electrical sections for assuring a high degree of versatility. Nominal system power is 6.7 kWp. In real operations system DC efficiency as high as 25% has been reached. Moreover, system acceptance angle of about 0.8° has been measured. In the present work, results of system field tests are presented and discussed, as well as measurements of some significant performance of components.