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Asymmetric Four-Terminal Solar Concentrator Improving Power Collection in Bifacial Solar Cells

Author

Listed:
  • Floriana Morabito

    (CNR-Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies Milano, Piazza L. da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Daniela Fontani

    (CNR-National Institute of Optics, Largo E. Fermi 6, 50125 Firenze, Italy)

  • Paola Sansoni

    (CNR-National Institute of Optics, Largo E. Fermi 6, 50125 Firenze, Italy)

  • Salvatore Lombardo

    (CNR-Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems, Zona Industriale, Ottava Strada 5, 95121 Catania, Italy)

  • Andrea Farina

    (CNR-Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies Milano, Piazza L. da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Silvia Maria Pietralunga

    (CNR-Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies Milano, Piazza L. da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy)

Abstract

The exploitation of bifacial solar cells in photovoltaics aims to provide cost-effective solutions to maximize solar power collection on specific surfaces. A prerequisite for this is the effective collection of backscattered diffuse light from albedo, to which self-shading is an obstacle. We discuss the benefits of bifaciality for an asymmetric low-concentrating and spectral-splitting photovoltaic optics system that features a wedged right-prism geometry to address self-shading. The performance of the conceptual design is analyzed, using commercial ray-tracing software, for four different latitudes of installation, by assuming a standard solar AM1.5G spectrum as input. The daily Relative Optical Power Increase (ROPI) is evaluated with respect to standard flat bifacial configurations, reaching ROPI = 293% at a latitude of 25° north at winter solstice. The photocurrent and total Power Conversion Efficiency (PCE) in a four-terminal (4T) configuration are estimated, assuming the operation of a commercial Si HJT bifacial cell and a commercial single-junction GaAs cell. A global increase in PCE of up to 23% is obtained with respect to the best-performing trackless standard bifacial configuration. From this perspective, the use of high-performance, high-bandgap solar cells in 4T configurations might further leverage the advantages of the optics proposed here.

Suggested Citation

  • Floriana Morabito & Daniela Fontani & Paola Sansoni & Salvatore Lombardo & Andrea Farina & Silvia Maria Pietralunga, 2025. "Asymmetric Four-Terminal Solar Concentrator Improving Power Collection in Bifacial Solar Cells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-20, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:8:p:2044-:d:1635992
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Vincenzo Muteri & Francesco Guarino & Sonia Longo & Letizia Bua & Maurizio Cellura & Daniele Testa & Marco Bonzi, 2022. "An Innovative Photovoltaic Luminescent Solar Concentrator Window: Energy and Environmental Aspects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-31, April.
    2. Li, Guiqiang & Xuan, Qingdong & Akram, M.W. & Golizadeh Akhlaghi, Yousef & Liu, Haowen & Shittu, Samson, 2020. "Building integrated solar concentrating systems: A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    3. Hong, Wenpeng & Li, Boyu & Li, Haoran & Niu, Xiaojuan & Li, Yan & Lan, Jingrui, 2022. "Recent progress in thermal energy recovery from the decoupled photovoltaic/thermal system equipped with spectral splitters," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    4. Fabio Ricco Galluzzo & Pier Enrico Zani & Marina Foti & Andrea Canino & Cosimo Gerardi & Salvatore Lombardo, 2020. "Numerical Modeling of Bifacial PV String Performance: Perimeter Effect and Influence of Uniaxial Solar Trackers," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-18, February.
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