Design, development, and electrical characterization of a parabolic dish photovoltaic thermal concentration system

Hybrid solar concentrating systems are recognized for their superior efficiency in generating both electricity and heat from solar radiation compared to standalone thermal or photovoltaic systems. However, these systems require greater technological maturity, are complex to produce, and are currently expensive, which restricts their commercial deployment. Few reported prototypes exist, and they offer significant opportunities for improvement. This article presents a prototype of a photovoltaic thermal concentrator that uses a parabolic dish, state-of-the-art multi-junction solar cells equipped with secondary optics, and an easy-to-build active cooling system with straight fins as channels to circulate water. It covers the design, optical simulation, construction, and electrical characterization of the prototype. One advantage of the prototype is its more straightforward structure compared to other reported prototypes, which facilitates manufacturing. The prototype was tested outdoors with and without active cooling. In the first case, it was observed that without the cooling system, the concentrating photovoltaic receiver temperature exceeded 108 °C, causing the electrical efficiency to drop to 8.31%. In the second case, the receiver temperature was maintained below 50 °C. Under clear-sky conditions, the system achieved an average real concentration of 414.8 suns and an average electrical efficiency of 29.75%, representing one of the highest efficiencies reported for these hybrid systems. This experimental study marks a fundamental step toward advancing photovoltaic thermal concentrator systems and bringing them closer to technological maturity. This study demonstrates a scalable solution for hybrid solar concentration, showcasing significant advancements in thermal management and system efficiency.