High Concentration Photovoltaics Technology (CPV)

BSQ’s High Concentration Photovoltaic System (CPV) is the perfect warhorse for the new generation of Beyond-Shockley-Queisser record-efficiency photovoltaic cells.

With more than a decade of intensive field testing and thorough development in the lab, the BSQ solar CPV system combines high efficiency, high concentration, non-imaging optics, with a simple and rugged module design especially devised for local assembly, and a truly robust and highly accurate sun tracker. Everything is optimized to provide the most cost-effective path, for the industrialization of competitive CPV electricity generation systems.

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HCPV Power Unit
Module and Tracker
Field Works
HCPV Power Plants

Sunlight is concentrated onto the cell by means of two optical stages

Concentrated light is homogenized before reaching the cell

Multijunction cells efficiently adapted to the solar spectrum

Very high concentration ratio of 820X and possibility to scale up to 1000X
Unique dome-shaped concentrating Fresnel lens with top dimple, produced by automobile headlamp manufacturer maximizes acceptance angle pointing tolerance up to 1°
Secondary optical stage based on kaleidoscopic optics, that through total internal reflection creates uniform light flux over the cell, preventing conversion losses due to chromatic aberration or inhomogeneous intensity distribution
Overall optical efficiency over 85% enables high overall conversion efficiency
Integration of high efficiency triple junction cells with 37% average efficiency by 1^st tier manufacturer
Kaleidoscopic homogenizer and three junction cell, both packaged in fail-proof receiver block
Over 30 yrs lifetime for encapsulation polymers in receiver block when subject to accelerated aging under most critical conditions: concentrated UV radiation in damp heat environment
Only requires passive cooling, with cell directly laminated in receiver block onto aluminum substrate, with no need for fin heat sink

The receiver and optics are assembled parquet-wise

A group of modules are assembled and leveled together to create a supermodule

A standard tracker contains four preassembled supermodules

CPV systems specially designed for affordable local assembly closer to the market, thus reducing shipping costs
280W per CPV module (@ STC: 1000W/m² @ 25ºC cell temperature) with 28% conversion efficiency
Sustained high energy output especially at high temperatures
Light CPV Modules: Monocoque structure made of aluminum of approximately 0.1kg/W
High resistance CPV module structure: up to 5400Pa in the aperture plane
The special dome-shaped lens enables self-cleaning: just 1mm of rainfall
Two axis pedestal tracker designed for optical quality stiffness: maximum 0.3° flexure under maximum service conditions
Numerically optimized aperture surface for least structural weight and cost
Auto-calibrated open loop sun tracking controller achieves 0.1° minimum tracking accuracy
Extended sun tracking range to harvest maximum energy
Best CPV module and tracker technologies resulting from more than 10 yrs. of sustained development and testing, including extensive field testing

Preassembled supermodules are delivered in racks for easy installation

Preassembled tracking drives also shipped in racks

Full installation of a system in less than 2 hours

CPV Modules are pre-assembled and pre-leveled in the factory and shipped as packs of <<Super Modules>> ready for quick installation in the field on top of the tracker frame.
Specially designed CPV supermodule packs for carrying in standard truck trailers and maritime containers and handled by regular cranes
The CPV system (tracker + modules) arrives in the field in four separate and pre-mounted sets, to reduce installation steps and crane time in field
Costly leveling in field reduces to just simple leveling of the four CPV Super Modules in each tracker
CPV sun tracker accuracy calibration is automatically carried out during installation, and thereafter operates on an open-loop basis with no dependence on faulty and maintenance prone tracking sensors
CPV tracking controllers are LAN networked and internet connected enabling remote operation and control, and failure diagnosis through historic log analysis

Landscape collecting surface reduces shading losses

Reduced environmental impact, allows dual-use of land

Less land conditioning due to single point foundations

Extended tracking range for maximum energy harvest

Landscape tracking aperture profile designed to reduce shading losses
Reduced surface environmental impact. No permanent shadowing allows dual-use of land
Pedestal CPV trackers used, with single point foundations, allow for less land preparation and installation in undulating terrain
Communications based on MODBUS protocol enable simple integration of standard industrial sensors and SCADA systems
Simple to monitor: One cable can wire up to 32 systems in the field. Allowable distances of 1000m per group

HCPV Power Unit

Very high concentration ratio of 820X and possibility to scale up to 1000X
Unique dome-shaped concentrating Fresnel lens with top dimple, produced by automobile headlamp manufacturer maximizes acceptance angle pointing tolerance up to 1°
Secondary optical stage based on kaleidoscopic optics, that through total internal reflection creates uniform light flux over the cell, preventing conversion losses due to chromatic aberration or inhomogeneous intensity distribution
Overall optical efficiency over 85% enables high overall conversion efficiency
Integration of high efficiency triple junction cells with 37% average efficiency by 1^st tier manufacturer
Kaleidoscopic homogenizer and three junction cell, both packaged in fail-proof receiver block
Over 30 yrs lifetime for encapsulation polymers in receiver block when subject to accelerated aging under most critical conditions: concentrated UV radiation in damp heat environment
Only requires passive cooling, with cell directly laminated in receiver block onto aluminum substrate, with no need for fin heat sink

Module and Tracker

CPV systems specially designed for affordable local assembly closer to the market, thus reducing shipping costs
280W per CPV module (@ STC: 1000W/m² @ 25ºC cell temperature) with 28% conversion efficiency
Sustained high energy output especially at high temperatures
Light CPV Modules: Monocoque structure made of aluminum of approximately 0.1kg/W
High resistance CPV module structure: up to 5400Pa in the aperture plane
The special dome-shaped lens enables self-cleaning: just 1mm of rainfall
Two axis pedestal tracker designed for optical quality stiffness: maximum 0.3° flexure under maximum service conditions
Numerically optimized aperture surface for least structural weight and cost
Auto-calibrated open loop sun tracking controller achieves 0.1° minimum tracking accuracy
Extended sun tracking range to harvest maximum energy
Best CPV module and tracker technologies resulting from more than 10 yrs. of sustained development and testing, including extensive field testing

Field Works

CPV Modules are pre-assembled and pre-leveled in the factory and shipped as packs of <<Super Modules>> ready for quick installation in the field on top of the tracker frame.
Specially designed CPV supermodule packs for carrying in standard truck trailers and maritime containers and handled by regular cranes
The CPV system (tracker + modules) arrives in the field in four separate and pre-mounted sets, to reduce installation steps and crane time in field
Costly leveling in field reduces to just simple leveling of the four CPV Super Modules in each tracker
CPV sun tracker accuracy calibration is automatically carried out during installation, and thereafter operates on an open-loop basis with no dependence on faulty and maintenance prone tracking sensors
CPV tracking controllers are LAN networked and internet connected enabling remote operation and control, and failure diagnosis through historic log analysis

HCPV Power Plants

Landscape tracking aperture profile designed to reduce shading losses
Reduced surface environmental impact. No permanent shadowing allows dual-use of land
Pedestal CPV trackers used, with single point foundations, allow for less land preparation and installation in undulating terrain
Communications based on MODBUS protocol enable simple integration of standard industrial sensors and SCADA systems
Simple to monitor: One cable can wire up to 32 systems in the field. Allowable distances of 1000m per group