Concentrating Photovoltaics
GreenMountain helps our concentrating photovoltaics (CPV) clients optimize design choices to improve performance and manufacturability while reducing costs.
We have worked on over 20 CPV-related projects for 10 clients in a range of technologies, including:
- Low- and high-concentration systems
- Modules and receivers
- Core technologies and subsystems
- Mechanical, electrical and software systems
Our work has also spanned the range of design phases, product and manufacturing issues. GreenMountain’s particular areas of expertise include:
- Analyzing product cost and feasibility
- Evaluating and developing module designs
- Thermal analysis
Example Projects
Analysis of manufacturability, cost, reliability, performance
- Performed cost analysis
- Assessed manufacturability, cost, reliability, and expected performance
- Identified necessary manufacturing equipment and processes
- Determined cost of setting up product line
Design analysis and concept development
- Examined design alternatives
- Identified opportunites for design improvement
- Performed technology assessment based on paper design
- Analyzed CPV module design and determined cause of module failure
Materials production and specification
- Researched and tested materials and processes necessary for concentrator module development including lamination materials, adhesives, tabbing, structural components, heat management, EVA and EVA alternatives, front glass, Tefzel and solders
- Specified materials including laminate and reflective materials
- Researched cell characteristics, size, and configuration
Product design and prototyping
- Designed and built receiver, tracker controller, subsystems
- Prototyped an entire low-concentration module
- Prototyped system with automatic tracking
Testing
- Tested electrical characteristics of cells under 2 to 100 suns
- Evaluated performance of particular cells in concentrator applications
- Designed and built testing units
- Demonstrated novel sun-tracking verification method
Thermal analysis and management
- Performed thermal stress analysis of module design
- Optimize heat transfer away from cells using finite element analysis
- Recommended design changes based on advanced thermal analysis
- Designed and implemented thermal management system for receiver
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