NACIR: An European Initiative Dedicated to Cooperation with Mediterranean Partner Countries in the Field of Photovoltaic Concentration

In the frame of the NACIR Project, the most advanced European Concentrating Photovoltaic (CPV) technologies are being installed in Morocco and Egypt. Concentrix Solar is installing in Egypt a 25kWp stand-alone CPV system to be used for water pumping and irrigation purposes. For this project Fraunhofer-ISE is developing a specifically improved power conditioning and control system. ISOFOTON is installing a grid connected 25 kWp CPV station in Morocco. ISFOC is defining methods and proposing standards for testing concentrator systems and is creating an experimental CPV database joining the performance data of the current CPV stations in Puertollano and Almoguera (Spain) with the new ones in Egypt and Morocco. Besides some technological advances will be envisaged: The development of second generation modules, at IS OFOTON and Concentrix Solar with scientific cooperation of Fraunhofer-ISE and UPM and the development of a new patented CPV technology up to module prototype status by UPM.