The IEC62670-3 standard for characterizing Concentrated Photovoltaic (CPV) modules specifies that measurements should be conducted under certain environmental conditions, particularly regarding the characteristics of the solar spectrum. Unfortunately, many sites only meet these conditions for limited periods throughout the year. To address this issue, RSE has developed and validated a method that allows for the characterization of CPV modules under less stringent conditions than those specified by the standard, while still providing equally useful information for characterization.

A significant issue is the effect of soiling on CPV modules. It is important to develop methodologies that can assess the reduction in power output due solely to soiling effects. RSE has developed a method to isolate soiling effects from those caused by variations in spectral irradiance. In this Line of Activity (LA1.04), the method was improved to also account for potential changes in the electrical parameters of the modules, which could be mistaken for soiling effects. For this purpose, a dedicated experimental setup was created to automatically measure current-voltage curves during nighttime, allowing for the estimation of changes in the module’s electrical parameters.

The module characterization also included outdoor measurements of a luminescent panel with InGaP cells. Data from simulations conducted in the previous triennium showed that InGaP cells mounted on the edges of luminescent panels could produce at least 50% more electrical power compared to silicon cells mounted in the same position. The outdoor characterization confirmed these predictions, with InGaP cells producing 100% more electrical power than silicon cells in this application.

Regarding the reliability study of CPV modules, RSE performed a long-term outdoor characterization of two CPV modules developed in the previous triennium, which had achieved efficiency values of 33%. The outdoor-tested modules showed a performance degradation between 8% and 13%, attributed to a reduction in optical reflectance.

Finally, in 2019, work began on the development and characterization of a CPV module integrating an innovative planar solar tracking system based on shape-memory actuators. Initial laboratory tests indicate that the tracking system has a precision of around 3 mm. The tracking system was also characterized under outdoor conditions to assess critical factors affecting movement accuracy.