Concentrated photovoltaic: levelized cost of electricity analysis using system advisor model, technology to achieve goals of national solar mission
Student name: Ms Harsh Lata
Guide: Dr Najmur Rahman
Year of completion: 2012
Host Organisation: Rays Power Experts Pvt. Ltd.
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Mr K C Narula
Abstract: Photovoltaic devices are in a mature technological stage with long and wide field experience, but if
we see their competition against other sources (renewable or even traditional), a scientific progress
in the behavior of Photovoltaic (PV) systems is needed. This is where the High Concentrator
Photovoltaic (HCPV) technology, a relatively recent form of solar power, can have main role. As
proved in various researches published also, it has the potential to achieve high levels of energy
conversion performance. The most expensive component in a conventional solar photovoltaic system
is the solar module cell. The module cost could be reduced if low cost reflector materials or the
Fresnel lenses are used to concentrate solar energy flux across a small cell area. Concentrated
Photovoltaic (CPV) systems presented in the light of Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) are shown
to be very competitive with other forms of solar plants (traditional PV) under suitable conditions like
high solar irradiance, land constraints, and high temperatures. The report discusses the brief
summary of CPV and will be exclusively focused on HCPV due to the reason that the technology is
best in terms of efficiency, energy production and perspectives of cost reduction. The various
possibilities of concentrating the light, the cooling requirement of the cell and the sun tracking
requirements are also discussed, including how CPV can be seen as a good option for India with
states like Rajasthan and Gujarat whose daily incidence is upto 7kWh/m2.
Key Words:
Photovoltaic
Concentrated Photovoltaic
High Concentration Photovoltaic
Fresnel Lenses
Levelized Cost of Electricity
