Fraunhofer ISE researchers develop bifacial hybrid HCPV module with output of 326 W/m2

• The EyeCon module has a hybrid power output of 326 W/m ² or a bifacial performance of 28%, determined with the readily available global plus backside irradiance. According to the research group, the silicon cell produces between 23 and 42 W/m ² of extra power when the scattered irradiance part increases from 8 to 30%.

Researchers at Germany’& rsquo; s Fraunhofer ISE have established a hybrid bifacial high-concentration photovoltaic module (CPV) which they declare can reach a power output of as much as 326 W/m2.

The module, called EyeCon, is manufactured by using silicone-on-glass Fresnel lenses with an aperture of 47.6 mm × & times; 47.6 mm in a 4 & times; 12 lens array and III‐V triple‐junction solar batteries onto the front surface area of p‐PERC bifacial crystalline silicon cells. “& ldquo; Such hybrid modules utilize lenses and multijunction cells to focus and transform direct normal irradiance (DNI) while taking in diffuse and scattered sunlight with an incorporated Si solar battery,” & rdquo; the researchers described

. They also said that the module concentration ratio was raised to 321x and that the absorption of diffuse irradiation was also increased by allowing the rear side of the Si cell to soak up light striking the glass baseplate of the module.

The silicon solar batteries were interconnected and laminated through standard industrial procedures, while the installing and affiliation of the CPV solar batteries were done with pick-and-place and ultrasonic heavy-wire bonding methods.

The outside characterization of the module was conducted on the dual-axis solar tracker of the research institute in Freiburg, southern Germany. “& ldquo; We show with outdoor measurements that the power output of the bifacial EyeCon module reaches up to 326 W/m2 when the direct to worldwide irradiance ratio is 92%,” & rdquo; the research group specified.

According to the scientists, the results of the experiments show that the Si cell generates between 23 and 42 W/m2 of extra power when the scattered irradiance part increases from 8% to 30%. “& ldquo; This represents a power increase in between 7.6% and 19% over traditional CPV modules”& rdquo;, the scientists even more discussed.

The EyeCon module, described in the paper Development and outside characterization of a hybrid bifacial HCPV module, published in Development in Photovoltaics, has a hybrid power output of 326 W/m2 or a bifacial effectiveness of 28% determined with the readily available worldwide plus rear side irradiance.

Compared to standard CPV modules, which just take into consideration the direct light, hybrid CPV modules have lower effectiveness. Their power output by area, nevertheless, depends on 19% higher because they harvest not only direct however also diffuse and rear side irradiation. Therefore, the concept attains the highest power per square meter of any PV innovation today.