Concentrated photovoltaic array, Solfocus
Concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) technologies focus large areas of sunlight onto small, high performance solar cells, maximising output and minimising cost.
CPV technology makes use of very high efficiency, ‘triple junction’ photovoltaic cells originally developed for the space industry. These cells produce large amounts of power at high temperatures and can withstand very high levels of sunlight. The Solfocus CPV array consists of 560 mirror units, each of which focuses 650 cm2 of sunlight onto a 1 cm2 cell and converts sunlight to electricity at a high 24% overall efficiency. By making use of concentrated sunlight, less of the expensive solar cells are used.
Only direct sunlight can be focused by the mirrors in CPV arrays, so tracking systems are used to keep them pointing towards the sun. CPV arrays operate best in clear, sunny conditions, making them most suitable for desert environments.
The first large implementation of this technology in the Southern Hemisphere is installed at the Alice Springs Airport.
Ingenero develops large scale solar energy installations powered by SolFocus CPV. Ingenero is a Queensland based solar company with experience in large scale solar power generation and the provision of various solar solutions around Australia.
| Electricity produced (annual): | 42.92 MWh |
|---|---|
| System size: | 2 x 8.4 kW |
| Array area: | 2 x 42.08 m² |
| Number of modules/power units: | 2 x 560 |
| Module efficiency: | 24 % |
| Module rated output: | 15 W |
| Inverter size, type: | 2 x 11 kW, SMA SMC 11000TL-10 |
| Type of tracker: | Solfocus SF-1100S, dual axis |
| Installation completed: | 8 November 2010 |