Title :
The EUCLIDES prototype: An efficient parabolic trough for PV concentration
Author :
Sala, Guillaume ; Arboiro, J.C. ; Luque, A. ; Zamorano, J.C. ; Miñano, J.C. ; Dramsch, C. ; Bruton, T. ; Cunningham, D.
Author_Institution :
Inst. de Energia Solar, Univ. Politecnica de Madrid, Spain
Abstract :
The project EUCLIDES, subsidized by the European Union, had the aim of demonstrating the feasibility of cost reduction using reflective parabolic trough solar concentrators. The concentrator is conceived as one axis, horizontal tracking North/South oriented array, 72 meters long. The geometric concentration ratio is 32X. A prototype, 24 meters long, has been developed and installed in Madrid, Spain. The overall efficiencies of 14 series connected receiving modules is 15.0% at 25°C. Such modules consist of 12 BP Solar SATURN concentrator solar cells, fully encapsulated. Costs analysis, after the prototype construction, shows that a total cost of 3.30 $/Wp for a grid connected solar power plant is achievable at the 10 MW production level. Also parabolic troughs have proved their suitability as PV concentrators
Keywords :
photovoltaic power systems; project engineering; semiconductor device testing; solar cell arrays; solar cells; solar energy concentrators; solar power stations; 10 MW; 15 percent; 24 m; 25 C; 72 m; EUCLIDES project; Europe; PV concentrators; SATURN concentrator solar cell arrays; Spain; costs analysis; geometric concentration ratio; grid-connected solar power plant; reflective parabolic trough solar concentrator; Aluminum; Availability; Costs; Focusing; Insulation life; Mirrors; Optical films; Prototypes; Saturn; Sun;
Conference_Titel :
Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 1996., Conference Record of the Twenty Fifth IEEE
Conference_Location :
Washington, DC
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-3166-4
DOI :
10.1109/PVSC.1996.564348
