Dec 10 2010
Semprius has completed the installation of the High Concentration Photovoltaic (HCPV) Research Development & Demonstration (RD&D) system. Semprius develops HCPV panels for distributed institutional and commercial applications.
The microcell-based HCPV system integrates Semprius’ HCPV modules with Siemens’ automated solar tracking system. The HCPV system was utilized at Tucson Electric Power (TEP) as part of the TEP project between Siemens and Semprius to develop HCPV systems at test sites.
The HCPV provides increased energy yield and conversion efficiency, as well as cost savings. Semprius provided the High Concentration Photovoltaic modules for the TEP project. Semprius developed the gallium arsenide-based microcells by utilizing a patented production process. The microcells reduce costs, increase system reliability and performance, and measure 600×600 µ in area with a thickness of 10 µ.
Siemens provided the 2-axis tracker system for TEP’s RD&D system. The 2-axis tracker offers tracking precision of over 0.2° and utilizes NREL’s Solar Positioning Algorithm and Siemens’ Simatic S7-1200 automation system. Featuring integrated remote data acquisition functionality, the tracker enables Semprius to monitor the system performance.