Fraunhofer Institute reports 36.7% CPV module efficiency

Jul 15, 2014 - Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE on Monday said it had achieved conversion efficiency of 36.7% with concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) modules.

The research body used Fresnel lenses, made by ORAFOL Fresnel Optics, combined with French firm Soitec’s (EPA:SOI) CPV four-junction solar cell and implemented into Fraunhofer ISE's Flatcon module concept. The surface area of the module that was tested was 832 sq cm (35.65 sq inches), with the sunlight being concentrated by a factor of 230 suns.The result was recorded under concentrator standard testing conditions (CSTC) and is the highest reported so far for a CPV module.

“This success shows that the high efficiencies of Soitec’s novel four-junction solar cells can be transferred to the module level,” said Andreas Bett from Fraunhofer ISE’s CPV research department. The achieved module efficiency is expected to be transferred to commercially made modules within one or two years, Fraunhofer ISE said.

A few months ago, Fraunhofer ISE, Soitec, the French research center CEA-Leti and the Helmholtz Center in Berlin achieved a record cell efficiency of 44.7 % under concentrated light, using Soitec’s four-junction solar cell technology.

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