High Concentration Photovoltaic systems applying III-V Cells

High concentration systems make use of the direct solar beam and therefore are suitable for application in regions with high annual direct irradiation values. III–V PV cells with a nominal efficiency of up to 39% are readily available in today’s market, with further efficiency improvements expected in the years ahead. The relatively high cost of III–V cells limits their terrestrial use to applications under high concentration, usually above 400 suns. In this way the relatively high cell cost is compensated through the low amount for cells needed per kW nominal system output. This paper presents a state of the art of high concentration photovoltaics using III–V cells. This PV field accounts already for more than 20 developed systems, which are commercially available or shortly before market introduction.