https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/20137903011
Concentrated photovoltaics, a case study
1 Centro Fermi, P.zza del Viminale 1, 00184 Roma, Italy
2 Physics and Astronomy Department, University of Padova, via Marzolo 8, 35131 Padova, Italy
3 AtemEnergia srl, Gall. Borromeo 3, 35137 Padova, Italy
4 Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, via Venezia 1, 35131 Padova, Italy
a Corresponding author: antonini@pd.infn.it
Published online: 10 December 2014
Concentrated Photovoltaics (CPV), once a niche technology, has now reached the maturity and reliability for large scale power generation. Especially in regions where temperatures are very high, the use of high efficiency triple junction solar cells with concentrating optics allows stable energy yield. Thus CPV can be seen as complementary and not in concurrence with silicon photovoltaics. The state of the art, the advantages and limitations of this technology will be shown. Among the main advantages of CPV is the possibility of a much higher energy supply, when compared to silicon photovoltaics, both comparing CPV and silicon with same area or the same installed power. The use of recycled and recyclable materials allows a more environmentally friendly production. The possibility to couple CPV with desalination facilities, energy storage will be analysed. As an example a case study of a CPV installation in Northern Italy is discussed. Here the use of mature technologies, derived from automotive and lighting sectors resulted in a simple and efficient module.
© Owned by the authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2014
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
