Development Of Terrestrial Concentrator Modules Using High-Efficiency Multi-Junction Solar Cells

For over two years, ENTECH has been developing terrestrial concentrator modules using high-efficiency multi-junction (MJ) solar cells. By utilizing MJ cells with color-mixing Fresnel lens optics produced by 3M, module efficiency levels of approximately 30% can be realized. Such high efficiency levels provide excellent economic leverage on all area-related costs (lenses, structures, land, etc.) of concentrator systems. ENTECH's new modules build upon a successful heritage of concentrator modules and systems developed over the past two decades. This paper summarizes progress on the development of the new concentrator module, including outdoor measurements on mini-concentrator modules employing color-mixing lenses and MJ cells. A recently tested mini-concentrator module has achieved over 30% net operational efficiency, which is believed to be the first time the 30% barrier has been broken for any solar technology.