Amonix Inc of Seal Beach, CA, USA, which makes utility-scale concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) solar power systems using III-V multi-junction solar cells, says that, during outdoor testing from late February to April, a module showcasing its latest-generation CPV technology demonstrated a peak operating solar energy conversion efficiency of 36.2%, measured on 14 March with a direct normal irradiance (DNI) of 876W/m2, an ambient temperature of 16°C and instantaneous wind speed of 1m/s. This exceeds the previous 34.2% peak efficiency set by Amonix in May 2012.
Over the entire testing period, the module earned a National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) outdoor efficiency rating of 34.9%, under international standard operating conditions for CPV of 900W/m2, 20°C ambient temperature and 2m/s wind speed, breaking the previous 33.5% rated efficiency world record that was also set by Amonix in May 2012. The module uses Boeing Spectrolab’s 40%-efficient solar cells and Amonix’s proprietary CPV technology.
Amonix was previously first to convert over a third of the sun’s energy, also in May 2012, and the first to break 30% module efficiency in 2011.
Picture: An Amonix CPV solar power system.
“Amonix’s proprietary technology platform allows us to continue driving rapid performance improvements in our CPV system,” says founder & chief technology officer Vahan Garboushian. “The advances we have demonstrated over the last 2 years have all been with the same generation 40% cells, demonstrating an unprecedented cell-to-module conversion efficiency of greater than 90%,” he adds. “With improvements that are underway in cell efficiency and additional advances in our module technology, we will continue to drive efficiency higher over the coming years,” he reckons.
