Solar trackers and concentrators

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Photovoltaic trackers and concentrators

"Never explain - your friends do not need it and your enemies will not believe you anyway."
(Elbert Hubbard)

The Rockingham concentrator PV system

Rockingham Photovoltaic Trough Concentrator Systems
(courtesy: Australian National University - Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems - CSES)

To increase solar yield and electricity production solar trackers and concentrator systems are sometimes used. A combination of solar trackers and concentrators is the best possibility and can be used at small and at large scale photovoltaic systems - Euclides power plant for example.


Bifacial tracking concentrators
Bifacial PV modules are recently delivered by several manufacturers. Because there is either no or low price difference in the price of such bifacial and single sided modules it is reasonable to use bifacial modules which could produce 5-20% more energy (in comparison with monofacial PV module with the same nominal output power). Polar axis solar tracker and/or tracking concentrator is always mounted on high support structures (to avoid contact of the rotating PV array with the ground). It improves back side energy collection in comparison with fixed PV arrays or even roof integrated PV modules. The energy gain can be in the range 10-15% (for typical albedo 0.3). Air-flow around the modules and corresponding cooling is improved as well (especially in comparison with roof integrated modules). Read more about photovoltaic tracking concentrators (document Courtesy Poulek Solar Ltd.). Bifacial concentrator tracker, bifacial modules and standard bifacial tracker (Source/Copyright: Poulek Solar Co.Ltd). Text and pictures courtesy Poulek Solar Co.Ltd. further information about solar trackers can also be found on Poulek Solar web pages. Languages: Webmaster's choice - interesting information about solar trackers with some literature available.
Photovoltaic large scale concentrators - application examples
The Rockingham Photovoltaic Trough Concentrator System Researchers at the Australian National University (ANU) have been developing photovoltaic (PV) concentrator technology since 1995. Funding has come from a number of sources, including Western Power from 1995 to 1997. In early 1998 Western Power joined a consortium with ANUTECH (the commercial arm of the ANU) and Solahart to apply for federal government funding for a 20kW pre-production system using the ANU technology. The Rockingham concentrator PV system was constructed by ANU and Solahart and commenced in November 1999. The system was connected to the public grid in July 2000. Name and location: The Rockingham Photovoltaic Trough Concentrator System - Australia PV system type: PV grid-connected Operation commencement: 1999, on-grid 2000 PV module area: 154 m²(80 mirrors) Rated power: 20 kW, 40 receivers 250 W each Number of mirrors: 80 mirrors, 1,6 x 1,2 m each Module mounting: double axis tracking, computer controlled position	The Rockingham Photovoltaic Trough Concentrator System (courtesy: Australian National University - CSES)
Euclides™ The Project EUCLIDES™ led to the development of a full technology of PV concentration. Four components were the basis of this new technology: concentration modules, concentration optics, heat sinks and structure and tracking. Based on this technology Euclides power plant was build. The plant is composed of 14 arrays 84 meters long, and its nominal power is 480 kWp. Each array has 138 modules and 140 mirrors. The 138 modules are series connected in each array. They provide a minimum acceptable voltage over 700 Volts at the worst conditions, in order to use a "true" three phase inverter without intermediate transformer. More... Name and location: Euclides - Canarian Islands, Spain PV system type: PV grid-connected Operation commencement: 1998 Arrays and mirrors: 14 arrays, 138 modules and 140 mirrors each Rated power: 480 kW, 700 V DC Module tracking: tracking based on sun astronomy equations plus a self-learning strategy PCU: 7 x 68,5 kW, ITER inverter Utility interconnection: central transformer 380 V, 20 kV	Euclides photovoltaic system (courtesy: ITER)
Concentrating Photovoltaic Power Plant, Dallas In March 1995, the Texas Utility Electric Company installed a 100 kW photovoltaic power plant at its new Energy Park in Dallas, Texas. The 100 kW plant consists of four east-west rows of collector modules, each 104 m in length and containing 72 photovoltaic modules. The system is connected to the public grid via DC to AC inverter and a transformer. Name and location: Concentrating Power Plant, Texas Energy Park PV system type: PV grid-connected Operation commencement: on-grid 1995 Concentrator: Fresnel lens Rated power: 100 kW Number of modules: 288 modules - 4 rows with 72 modules each. Each module 430 Wp.

Power	Location	Description	Constructed	MWh/GHG	Picture
20 kW	Australia, Rockingham Picture source: CSES Australian National University	Rockingham photovoltaic trough concentrator system with parabolic mirrors CONC, TRAC	2000
32 kW	Italy, Saluzzo Picture courtesy: Centro Ricerche ISCAT s.r.l.	First European roofmounted grid- connected solar concentrator PV system. It uses DoubleSun® technology 2x flat aluminium mirrors CONC, TRAC Sanyo modules	Italian ISCAT Research Centre October 2007	57 MWh
480 kW	Spain, Tenerife, Canarian Islands Picture courtesy: ITER, Tenerife, Canarian Islands, Spain	Euclides plant SA, CONC, HY, GC, WI
100 kW	USA, Dalas, TX	Dallas Energy Park CONC, Fresnel lens technology	1995
172 kW	USA, Glendale, AZ	Glendale municipal airport, 72 kW flat-plate tracking + 100 kW concentrating TRAC, CONC
Examples of some interesting concentrating photovoltaic plants. Largest 25 BIPV systems are listed here, world's biggest photovoltaic systems can you find on page World's largest PV systems.

* Abbreviations - explanation

BG - Biogas as additional energy source in hybrid systems
BIPV - Building integrated photovoltaic system
BM - Biomass as additional energy source in hybrid systems
CONC - Concentrating photovoltaic system
CSC - Coloured solar cells
DI - Diesel fuel as additional source of energy in hybrid systems
DIST - Distributed photovoltaic system
GC - Grid-connected photovoltaic system
FC - Fuell cells as additional energy source in hybrid systems
FI - Facade-integrated system
FLEX - Flexible solar cells
FM - Facade-mounted system
HY - Hybrid photovoltaic system
NB - Noise barrier
PB - PV System part of a passive building
RES - Residental housing
RI - Roof-integrated photovoltaic system
RM - Roof-mounted photovoltaic system
SA - Standalone photovoltaic system
SV - "Shadow-Voltaic" system
TRAC - Tracking system
TRAN - Transparent modules
WI - Wind as additional source of energy in hybrid systems
WP - Water pumping

Trackers and photovoltaic concentrators - related web sites
	ADES - Aplicaciones de Energías Sustitutivas S.L., company offers different renewable energy related products and sollutions including solar trackers. Languages:
	Alanod - Manufacturer of aluminium reflective sheets. Sheets, mainly used in lightning, can be used in concentrator systems also. Languages:
	Amonix Inc. - integrated high-concentration photovoltaic (IHCPV) systems. Since the early-1990s, Amonix has field-tested several IHCPV generating systems throughout the United States. Languages:
	Arontis Solar Concentrator - Arontis Ltd is introducing a low-concentrating, sun tracking PVT system that produces electricity and hot water from direct sunlight. As a result of several years research at the private research institute Solar20, Arontis can now offer test installations of our first PVT system – the Solar8. Solar8 is a low-concentrating East West oriented sun tracking PVT, which concentrate the sunlight 8 times on water cooled solar cells. Animation video is also available on-line. Languages:
	DEGEREnergie - Single-axis active tracking systems for flat roofs, facades, dumps, and open spaces Dual-axis, active tracking systems for free-standing applications, on buildings and for fitting on different mast heights. Languages: Webmaster's choice - interesting solar tracker application examples.
	FEINA SCP - FEiNA SCP is a company dedicated to the Renewable Energy. Its main products are devices that follow the motion of the sun - solar trackers. Languages:
	IEA SHC Task 35 "PV/Thermal Solar Systems" - The objectives of this Task are to catalyse the development and market introduction of high quality and commercial competitive PV/Thermal Solar Systems and to increase general understanding and contribute to internationally accepted standards on performance, testing, monitoring and commercial characteristics of PV/Thermal Solar Systems in the building sector. Languages:
	Mecasolar - mecasolar is a company dedicated to the design, manufacture and distribution of high-technology dual axis solar tracking systems. Languages:
	Poulek Solar - The company was established in 1994 by group of solar energy professionals with long term engineering skil. Languages: Webmaster's choice - interesting information about solar trackers with some literature available.
	WS-Energia - WS Energia as a diversified set of "ready to install" products packages, from the DoubleSun® systems of high efficiency with solar concentration, or reliable solar tracking systems, or optimized systems for housing, or stand-alone systems for isolated areas or industrial applications, and also solar gardens systems. Languages:
	Solar20 - the Solar20's mission is to produce solar power at an investment of 1 USD/Wp. It seems to be possible by using of state-of-art solar cells that operate with 20% efficiency at a light concentration of 20 times (20 suns). Languages:
	checkSun (Galileo/GPS Timesignal for 2-axis Solar Tracking) - Specified as NMEA 0183 (ASCII) GPS signals are available worldwide. The purpose here is to use these signals for solar tracking: Time/Date for the position of the sun and geogr. coordinates to adjust the global data to retrieve relevant local facts for tracking. (Galileo starts 2008). Languages: SunTideTracer® - Inventors presentation Languages:
	SolFocus - The company’s mission is to provide innovative solar energy solutions which are competitive with fossil fuels. SolFocus has an expanding portfolio of products and technologies including solar concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) systems, intelligent tracking systems for CPV and flat panel PV systems. Languages:
	SunPower Corp. - high performance low cost solar cells. The company conducts its main R&D activity in Sunnyvale, California and maintains a pilot line for solar cells in Round Rock, Texas. Languages:

Literature and more information

Libra, M., Poulek, V.: Bifacial PV Modules in Solar Trackers and Concentrators Physical Methods in Agriculture; Proceedings of the International Conference, Prague, August 27-30, 2001; Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, New York.
Libra, M., Poulek, V.: New Bifacial Solar Trackers and Tracking Concentrators (370 kB).
C-Rating Project: Test, rating and Specification of PV Concentrator Components and Systems Classification of PV concentrators.
Geyer, M. et all: EUROTROUGH - Parabolic Trough Collector Developed for Cost Efficient Solar Power Generation; 11th SolarPACES International Symposium on Concentrated Solar Power and Chemical Energy Technologies, Sept 4-6, 2002, Zurich, Switzerland (557 kB).
Vasylyev, S.V.: A Novel 500 W Photovoltaic Concentrator; SVV Technology Innovations, Inc. Sacramento, CA (1005 kB).
Utility-Scale Photovoltaic Concentrators; EERE (116 kB).
Erik Rossen personal pages. Some interesting information about solar concentrators and heliostats
Heliostats - Diverse Information and Links;
Solar Trackers - Electronic Cirquits and Design Tips.