An Innovative Concentrating Photovoltaic Thermal System for Rural Electrification and Water Supply An Evaluation of Performance, Off-Grid Applications, and Cost Competitiveness for a Community Microgrid and Medical Clinic in Rural Papua New Guinea

A novel concentrating photovoltaic thermal (CPV/T) system is proposed for providing combined heat and power for off-grid communities. The solar concentrator is able to achieve a peak combined photoelectric and photothermal efficiency greater than 60%, which is significantly greater than similar designs through the use of an innovative compound parabolic reflector that directs all incoming insolation onto the PV cells with only a single reflection, thereby eliminating losses associated with multiple reflections. The performance and cost-competitiveness of the technology is examined for a small prototype at Tsinghua University and a 500kW system at Xi'an Jiaotong University. The applicability of the system to community electrification is discussed through a case study of the Madan Medical Clinic in Jiwaka Province, Papua New Guinea. For this location, the electricity and hot water provided by the discussed CPV/T system will provide significant support to the community services provided by the clinic in a simple, cost-effective, and sustainable manner.