DOUBLING THE PERFORMANCE-COST RATIO OF PV BY USING CHEAP MIRRORS – A SECONDARY SCHOOL PROJECT

摘要

Reduction of cost is a major issue in the photovoltaics field. We have addressed this issue in a secondaryschoolscience project by considering the use of cheap mirrors in combination with solar panels, for application in developingcountries. We have confirmed that it is possible to increase the performance-cost ratio of solar cells by using mirrors. Withgeometric analyses of several configurations involving a solar panel and mirrors of different size, in combination withmeasurements, we have shown that a performance enhancement can be reached of 126%, with respect to a horizontallyplaced solar panel. This performance enhancement can be reached at only 30% higher cost using a solar cell in combinationwith an elongated mirror made of commercially available bathroom tiles. However, using an Al foil elongated mirror aperformance enhancement can be reached of 120% at 10% higher cost. Therefore, the use of an Al foil is more cost effectivethan the use of bathroom tiles.