Solar energy a very convenient form of renewable energy, emerging economies like China would benefit a lot from it. What is holding them back from using it then? Efficiency, cost or maybe both. Researchers from the Australian National University (ANU), Tianjin University in China and Chromasun, a Silicon Valley company have come together to make solar energy cheaper and efficient and are working on it in a step-wise manner.

The team first came up with a grid-connected system that had an 80 meter long 2-axis collector with 80 mirrors each of which focused sunlight onto highly efficient solar cells mounted on air-cooler receivers. This was capable of producing 20kW power. Keeping it in place, they then developed the 300 m² Combined Heat and Power Solar (CHAPS) system which uses the natural heat generated in the photovoltaic linear concentrators. It had eight collectors, hot water storage, hydronic in-slab floor heating and gas-fired boosters with a 40-kW inverter.

The team then realized the demand for smaller devices in the market and set to combine both the above mentioned systems to make a hybrid microconcentrator that would be available at a lower cost. The supposed system measuring just 1.7 x 1.5 x 0.2 meters has just 7 mirrors which would focus light onto the 20% more efficient crystalline Si micro PV cells connected to a receiver which will deliver heat to the hot water tank.

Working as a team, the researchers have brought forward the best in each of them and made the system economical compared to the previously built ones. The group needs appreciation and applauds for their job.

Source: RenewableEnergyWorld