NANOHMICS INC — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: The benefits of concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) systems with regard to total system effici

Description

The benefits of concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) systems with regard to total system efficiency are well known in commercial applications and operate at system efficiencies near 30% with some demonstration systems operating above 40%, compared with 15-20% peak efficiency for conventional PV. Because CPV systems must maintain alignment with the sun to maintain optical concentration, they harvest more energy throughout the day compared with non-tracked PV. Furthermore, because CPV systems use a fraction of the PV material required in conventional solar arrays, they have the potential to produce energy at a lower total cost. However, the operation and maintenance requirements and associated costs make traditional tracked systems unattractive for many customers. To address this challenge, Nanohmics proposes to develop and demonstrate proof-of-concept for its SunPerch flat form-factor concentrating photovoltaic system, which integrates concentrating optics, use of advanced triple junction PV materials, and zero-wear in-panel tracking in a cost-effective package made from conventional materials and using proven manufacturing technologies. This combination of innovations delivers the benefits of high-performance CPV systems in the same form factor as fixed-tilt conventional PV systems.