PSA Solar furnace: A facility for testing PV cells under concentrated solar radiation

Abstract

The Plataforma Solar de Almerı´a (PSA), the largest centre for research, development and testing of

concentration solar thermal technologies in Europe, has started to apply its knowledge, facilities and

resources to development of the Concentration PV technology in an EU-funded project HiConPV. A

facility for testing PV cells under solar radiation concentrated up to 2000 has recently been

completed. The advantages of this facility are that, since it is illuminated by solar radiation, it is

possible to obtain the appropriate cell spectral response directly, and the flash tests can be combined

with prolonged PV-cell irradiation on large surfaces (up to 150 cm2), so the thermal response of the PV cell can be evaluated simultaneously.