30 kW concentrator photovoltaic system using dome-shaped Fresnel lenses

A 30 kW concentrator photovoltaic power plant was constructed and has started operation with the following new technologies: A new Concentrating PhotoVoltaic (CPV) tracker developed for high wind area like Korea and Japan by Daido Steel. (The power consumption of the tracking motors was only 19.6 W, namely 0.07% of the rated power.) With improved optics that reduce the mismatch losses associated with optical aberrations, an efficiency of 25.8% was achieved under standard testing conditions (STC) even in a large 23.8 m(2) array size. A rapid installation sequence was developed. It was designed for long-term power supply to a local sewage center. Peak power corresponds to 10% of the demand. As a result, the system performance ratio was 0.87, and the capacity factor was 11.7%. The energy generation per rated power was 1,020 kWh/kWp. While it is true that CPV systems perform better in dry and high irradiance areas, our 30 kW system installed in a cloudy area like Japan, showed satisfactory performance.