Commercial Breakthrough – 150MW project brings CPV technology into the mainstream

Soitec’s concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) modules are built on Concentrix technology.  Every aspect of the technology has been optimized to offer a commercial solution with the most efficient solar energy generation available on the market.  The technology uses Fresnel lenses to concentrate sunlight 500 times and focus it onto small, highly efficient multi-junction solar cells.  With world-leading AC system efficiencies of over 25% in actual operating conditions, the efficiency is almost twice as high as achieved using conventional silicon systems. 

Soitec manufactures IEC-certified modules on a fully-automated industrial production line- one of the world’s most modern CPV module manufacturing facilities.  Our modules, based on a simple, yet robust optical concept are designed for automated mass production at consistently high quality and efficiency levels.  The high degree of automation allows Soitec to build new production lines on a smart copy basis wherever demand is located resulting in local local job creation and economic development.

With first demonstration systems of Concentrix technology dating back to 2005, and with a recently completed 1MW (AC) reference plant in the USA; the first commercial scale CPV solar power plant in the world to be deployed by a large oil company, we now have a solid track record proven reliability and robustness of the Soitec Concentrix technology.  This paper gives an overview of an announced 150MW utility scale solar power plant using the Soitec Concentrix technology.  This project being developed by a top-tier Independent Power Producer demonstrates market acceptance and commercial viability of CPV for utility scale solar power plants.  The performance of Soitec´s CPV systems has proven to be superior in hot and dry climates and to deliver high performance, reliability and cost competitiveness.