Central Receiver CPV Pilot Project Stage 2
- $1.75m Funded by ARENA
- $3.63m Total project cost
Summary
This project demonstrated the world’s first pre-commercial pilot of a central receiver system that uses solar photovoltaic (PV) energy conversion.
Need
The combination of high efficiency solar cells with a low cost method of collecting and concentrating sunlight could significantly reduce the cost of solar-based electricity.
Project innovation
This project demonstrated the world’s first pre-commercial pilot of a central receiver system that uses solar photovoltaic (PV) energy conversion.
A 200 kilowatt commercial scale pilot plant was constructed using RayGen’s new central receiver concentrator photovoltaic (CSPV) technology.
The CSPV technology employs an ultra efficient concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) receiver combined with an optimised heliostat collector field (an array of sun-tracking mirrors). In this system the heliostats concentrate sunlight onto the photovoltaic cells in the central receiver, which is located at the top of a mast alongside the heliostat field. By using large arrays of inexpensive mirrors, the CSPV technology can sidestep cost issues facing other solar technologies and therefore significantly reduce the cost of large scale solar energy.
The pilot plant providing performance data that can be used for the development of a commercial scale CSPV unit including efficiency, long term reliability and operations and maintenance data.
Completion of the project has placed RayGen in a position where it has developed and demonstrated the essential CSPV technology, processes and knowledge base to enable a successful commercialisation phase.
Learn more
Report: Central Receiver CPV Pilot Project – Stage 2
This report details the world’s first pre-commercial pilot of a central receiver system that uses solar photovoltaic (PV) energy conversion.
Media Release: First of a Kind Concentrated Solar PV Power Tower
A unique concentrated solar photovoltaic power tower was unveiled in Newbridge, Victoria today, paving the way for the deployment of utility-scale CSPV power stations in Australia and overseas.
Image: Newbridge CSPV Power Tower
Benefit
The project was a key step toward reducing the cost of commercial concentrating solar power to the point where it can compete with traditional carbon-based energy without subsidies.
