The ASES project is being co-funded by Spanish CDTI

June 1st, 2014 The project Smart High Efficient Alternative Solar Energy Source “ASES” carried out by an European consortium in which BSQ, within the Spanish participation, brings its expertise on the design of solar trackers, aims on the development of an original CPV (Concentration PhotoVoltaic systems) cells in an intelligent lightweight small micro system easy…

IHS says HCPV Systems to reach higher efficiencies, boosting appeal against conventional solutions

IHS says HCPV Systems to reach higher efficiencies, boosting appeal against conventional solutions

IHS, March 10th, 2014 Consistent improvements in technology and gradually lower costs will drive high-concentration photovoltaic (HCPV) systems to superior efficiencies, making HCPV an increasingly viable rival to conventional solar-generating solutions, according to the latest analysis from IHS Technology (NYSE: IHS). The cell efficiency of HCPV systems, currently at 40 to 42 percent, will exceed…

CONFOBLOCK receives funding from Spain’s MINETUR

February 2nd, 2014 BSQ’s project CONFOBLOCK aims at developing an HCPV receiver block that optimally integrates cell and secondary optics. The cost of the receiver block approximately represents 50% of the overall cost of an HCPV module. The target of the present project is to design a receiver block where costs are cut by as…

IES-UPM’s quest for record cell at ultra high concentrations

IES-UPM’s quest for record cell at ultra high concentrations

Semiconductor Today, November 26th, 2013 The Group of III-V Semiconductors of the Instituto de Energía Solar at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (IES-UPM) in Spain has reported a triple-junction concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) solar cell with an efficiency of 39.2%, as confirmed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems in Freiburg, Germany. After in November 2008…

Four Junction solar cell hits new record at 44.7%

Four Junction solar cell hits new record at 44.7%

Semiconductor Today, September 25th, 2013 The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in Freiburg, Germany, concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) system maker Soitec of Bernin, France, micro/nanotechnology R&D center CEA-Leti in Grenoble, France and the Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin have jointly achieved a new record for solar energy conversion efficiency by using a new cell structure with…

SHARP’s NGCPV effort gets the record: 44.4%

SHARP’s NGCPV effort gets the record: 44.4%

Sharp, June 17th, 2013 Sharp Corporation has achieved the world’s highest solar cell conversion efficiency*2 of 44.4%, using a concentrator triple-junction compound solar cell. These solar cells are used in a lens-based concentrator system that focuses sunlight on the cells to generate electricity. This latest Sharp breakthrough came about through research and development efforts that…

Solar Junction beats record again…and now at 1000 suns

Solar Junction beats record again…and now at 1000 suns

Semiconductor Today, October 15th, 2012 Solar Junction of San Jose, CA, USA, which manufactures III-V multi-junction solar cells for concentrated photovoltaics (CPV), has set raised its own world record for the energy conversion efficiency of a commercial-ready production solar cell, from 43.5% at 418 suns (achieved in April 2011) to 44% at 947 suns now,…

1.2GW of CPV in 2016 according to IMS Research

1.2GW of CPV in 2016 according to IMS Research

IMS Research, September 26th, 2012 The concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) market is forecast to double in 2012 and reach almost 90 MW or $325 million, according to a new report from IMS Research (recently acquired by IHS Inc. (NYSE: IHS)). Furthermore, IMS Research predicts installations of this emerging technology will grow rapidly over the next five…