Development of III-V-based concentrator solar cells and their application in PV-modules

Concentrators have a great potential to achieve cost reduction for solar generated electricity. In this work III-V-based concentrator solar cells for high concentration levels were fabricated. Monolithic and mechanically stacked multi-junction cells were investigated achieving efficiencies up to 33.5 % at C=308 (AM1.5d, 1000W/m/sup 2/, 25/spl deg/C). The cells are employed in point-focus Fresnel lens modules. All-glass hermetized modules designed for a concentration level of 120 and 500 obtained efficiencies of up to 24.8 % and 21.7 %, respectively. The modules were characterized under outdoor conditions at Freiburg, Germany.