Outdoor Performance of Micro-CPV and PV Systems in Different Locations

Abstract

Concentrator photovoltaics (CPV) technology is a highly promising solar power, but high-manufacture cost limits its development. In order to make the cost of CPV system more competitive, INER presents a new type CPV module called micro-CPV which simplifies the procedure of assembling frames and reduces customized components by adopting high power LED packaging process. It can greatly reduce development costs and enhance reliability. This paper compares the outdoor performance of micro-CPV and photovoltaics (PV) systems installed in six places in Taiwan. The results show that the conversion efficiency of PV module is slightly decreased with the increasing of solar irradiance, and the root cause may be temperature. Compared with PV module, the conversion efficiency of micro-CPV module is stable in high solar irradiance. However, the conversion efficiency of micro-CPV module shows unstable and scattered in low solar irradiance which is sensitive to solar spectrum. Lastly, we found that the direct normal irradiance (DNI) value can reach 1000 W/m2 in high altitude region and the relative energy yield of micro-CPV system is higher than that of PV system.