Performance Analysis of a Prototype High‐Concentration Photovoltaic System Coupled to Silica Optical Fibers. Issue 15 (6th June 2021) - Lo Piccolo, Giuseppe Mattia
Abstract : High‐concentration photovoltaic (HCPV) systems are one of the most promising technologies for the generation of renewable energy with high‐conversion efficiency. Their development is still at an early stage, but the possibility of integrating high‐concentration systems into buildings offers new opportunities to achieve the net‐zero‐energy building goal. Herein, the optical and energetic performance of a hybrid daylighting−HCPV prototype based on pure‐ or doped‐silica optical fibers (OFs) to guide 2000× concentrated sunlight inside the buildings is evaluated. There, the light can either be used to illuminate interior spaces or projected on solar cells to generate electricity. The system equipped with a single 400 μm core‐diameter OF is demonstrated to achieve a total efficiency of 15% and an optical efficiency of 45%. Abstract : Sunlight concentrator coupled to commercial silica optical fiber enables to guide solar light indoors to produce electric power by a daylighting/high‐concentration photovoltaic system with multijunction cells. Tests shows evidence that pure‐silica core fibers transmit 2000× concentrated light without degradation and with an efficiency of 15%