Efficiencies and energy balance in high-concentrator photovoltaic devices

Abstract

Actual and forecast high-concentrator photovoltaic (HCPV) systems efficiencies may provide a scenario where HCPV represents a potential alternative to flat PV technology. The present status of HCPV efficiencies will be studied, and, on this basis, future trends regarding HCPV cells, modules, and systems efficiencies will be forecast. It will be shown that HCPV technology represents a real alternative to the current PV systems. Guidelines and normalized documents are needed to assess the overall performance of HCPV systems and to provide a general assessment of the potential of HCPV technology. The International Standard IEC 61724 publication, Photovoltaic System Performance Monitoring—Guidelines for Measurement Data Exchange and Analysis, will be highlighted. Because these guidelines are specially addressed to flat-PV technology, some suggestions, especially those adapted to the particularities of HCPV systems on both monitored and derived parameters, will be covered. Moreover, different indices of performance and losses that intend to provide comparisons between different HCPV installations will be offered adapted to the HCPV idiosyncrasy. These comparisons may be extremely useful when it comes to optimizing HCPV installation technology.