Concentrating photovoltaics (CPV) technology which uses optics to concentrate sunlight onto a small area of solar cell offers an alternative to the traditional solar module.  The solar cells are typically multi-layer cells which produces electricity with efficiencies approaching 40%.  Under 500-sun concentration, one square centimeter of solar cell area produces the same electricity as 500 square cm would without concentration.  Concentration enables replacement of the more expensive semiconductor area with cheaper materials such as plastic lenses or reflectors.   The savings in the semiconductor area and the higher output due to the use of the higher efficiency cells make the modules more economical.  In addition, CPV modules use less than half of the space needed by traditional PV module to produce the same amount of electricity.

 

The question is: why is the world not saturated with CPV modules?  The answer is that the CPV industry has not perfected the technology yet. Current CPV modules are typically configured in a box like bulky structures that do not look like or feel like production ready. In addition, when sun radiation is concentrated, so is the amount of heat produced. Cell efficiencies decrease as temperatures increase, and higher temperatures also threaten the long-term stability of solar cells.  Sowlar  new innovations overcome the heat, reliability and producibility issues.  Leveraging its extensive optics, semiconductor and thermal packaging experience from designing compact military weapons, Sowlar has developed technologies that revolutionize concentration optics and passively removes heat from the solar cells thereby achieving high efficient and long term reliability. Sowlar's innovations include:

 

  o  Use of newly engineered materials for improved thermal management

  o  Generation of a homogenous flux without the use of homogenizers,

      thereby reducing losses and increasing efficiency

  o  Increased sun acceptance angle resulting in relaxed tracking requirements

  o  Shallow optics focal point resulting in thinner and more aesthetically

      pleasing CPV modules