Page 90 - RSE - Results of the Apollon Project

Results of the APolloN PRoject ANd coNceNtRAtiNg PhotovoltAic PeRsPective

Development Scenario for New HCPV Systems

The European Research project APOLLON allowed ASSE. to gain important additional experience in the construc-
tion of HCPV-modules, in particular on mirror-based modules, and in the construction of trackers for HCPV-systems.
Furthermore, the research clarifed the possibilities and the diffculties for a future development and commerciali-
zation of such CPV modules. This development has to take place in the context outlined above and summarized in
the points below:
p the commercial modules to be developed shall have a CSTC-effciency of 34% or better. The results of the APOL-
LON project indicate that an optical effciency of 82% can be reached at the single receiver level. A good quality
control should enable limitation of the mismatch losses between the receivers of a module to 5%. This implies
that concentrator cells with effciencies >34%/0.82/0.95= 43.6% shall be commercially available. This can reaso-
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nably be expected since a record cell effciency of 44.1% has already been certifed ;
p the overall costs for the new HCPV-system shall be well below 1.90 euros/Wp, may be as low as 1.50 euros/Wp
because during the development period installation costs are expected to go further down for fxed- and tracked
c-Si systems and for the CPV-systems of competitors. Market developments shall be continuously monitored. To
reach the cost target, all system aspects shall be optimized together: module, tracker and BoS shall be dimensio-
ned perfectly together in order to minimize costs. In addition the system shall be designed for low-maintenance
and for low self-consumption of energy;
p fnancing shall be guaranteed during the development period prior to market entrance. Investment around 50
M euros to 100 M euros seems necessary to set up solid CPV system production. These investments shall cover
research and development, product qualifcation, automated production lines, installation of medium-sized pilot
plants and marketing. A private-public fnancial support could be the winning solution. Public funding could be
guaranteed, for example, through public tenders for medium-large scale demonstration projects;
p in the next fve years (period 2013-2018) the current major CPV-players will install large systems, demonstrating
that costs can be competitive, demonstrating that the HCPV-technology works and it is reliable, and the subse-
quent improved bankability will help CPV exploitation .
p the new CPV-system shall mainly be designed as a ground-mounted system for areas with DNI >6 kWh/m /day
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(>2,200 kWh/m /year) and a low percentage of diffuse light.
p cooperation in Europe among major CPV players, from frms to research Institutions, can be the winning solution
to further increase module performances and then raise the competitiveness level of CPV technology.

51 www.i-micronews.com/news/Solar-Junction-surpasses-previous-World-Record-certifed-44,10855.html.

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