Use of Spillage with Concentrating Photovoltaics: Simulation and Experimental campaign

Abstract

Concentrating solar power plants are considered an important contributor to renewable energy supply due to their high efficiency and cost-effective storage. Solar tower systems using solid particles as a heat transfer and storage medium, in combination with concentrating photovoltaics (CPV), promise to reduce the levelized cost of energy. This study evaluates the cost potential and performance characterisation from hybridizing solar power plants with CPV modules integrated into the radiation shield of a particle receiver, to capture spillage radiation that is otherwise lost. Simulation results for a commercial configuration case show that the annual electricity production could be increased by up to 12%, reducing electricity cost by about 18%. Further improvement options exist and are discussed briefly. A demonstration test in a real receiver application is currently under preparation in DLR’s solar tower test facility. Six CPV modules are integrated into the radiation shield of a particle receiver. Solar testing will validate the performance. Within the SpiCoPV project three groups of CPV modules will be integrated into the aperture shield of the HEHTRES receiver, each group having 2 ADAM (”Advanced Dense Array Module”) modules from AZUR SPACE with 96 CPV triple-junction cells, mounted on a water-cooled copper structure. The system will be put into on-sun operation beginning of May and last until the end of summer 2025.