USING PERFORMANCE MODELING AND FIELD DATA TO REDUCE EQUIPMENT AND ENERGY COSTS WITH MEDIUM-CPV SYSTEMS

摘要

The design of cost-efficient medium-concentration PV (MCPV) systems requires the analysis ofdozens of engineering, manufacturing and financial trade-offs. In 2007, Skyline Solar designed its first system,the HGS1000, based on a 7x concentration factor and 0.5 m aperture width. At the then-current cost ofcomponents, this was the optimum design. However, as the cost of silicon cells has fallen and the efficiency ofcells has improved, the least-cost point has moved. This paper explains how we used the combination of fielddata and advanced performance modeling to re-optimize the design for lowest levelized cost of energy (LCOE)and achieve 40% cost reduction.