What an electricity-heat hybrid system can look like

Conversion of the SunPower C7 concentrated photovoltaic power plant into a highly efficient hybrid power system

We know of greater degradation caused by too much heat in photovoltaic systems. A renovation is particularly obvious for the C7 systems. Converting it into an electricity-heat hybrid system with spectral splitters would be very efficient and an AI helped me write it down.

Concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) systems like the SunPower C7 have proven efficient at harnessing solar energy to generate electricity. However, a major challenge for these systems is thermal degradation, which can affect performance and lifespan. This article explains how the SunPower C7 CPV system can be modified by incorporating a spectrum splitter to create a hybrid power and heat plant that can increase overall output by up to 40%.
Information about the SunPower C7
The SunPower C7 tracker is designed to concentrate sunlight on high-efficiency photovoltaic cells, reducing the number of cells needed and saving levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). However, the concentration of sunlight leads to significant heat generation, which can reduce the efficiency of the PV cells over time.
Step 1: Analyze current thermal degradation issues
First, a detailed assessment of the existing SunPower C7 system is critical:
Influence of temperature: Monitor the temperature of PV cells to understand degradation patterns. High temperatures can lead to a reduction in conversion efficiency and increased degradation of cellular materials.
– Performance metrics: Collect data on current electrical performance, heat losses and degradation rates to establish a baseline for improvements.
Step 2: Introducing the Spectrum Splitter
To mitigate heat issues and increase efficiency, we can implement spectrum splitting technology:
Spectral beam splitting (SBS): Use of an optical filter that splits the incident solar spectrum into different bands. The visible spectrum can be directed to the photovoltaic cells to generate electricity, while the infrared (IR) portion, which primarily assists in heat generation, is redirected to a heat collector for heat utilization.
Change process:
Splitter Design: The spectrum splitter should be designed to reflect wavelengths of approximately 550nm to 1000nm to the PV cells to ensure optimal power generation while transmitting the IR spectrum for thermal purposes. Advanced materials such as dichroic filters or nanostructured materials can be used for this purpose.()(https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341802329_Spectral-splitting_hybrid_PV-thermal_PVT_systems_for_combined_heat_and_power_provision_to_dairy_farms)
**Integration into this infrastructure**: The splitter can be retrofitted into the existing SunPower C7 concentrators. The new optical components are aligned with the parabolic mirrors to ensure that the light is separated correctly without significant losses…