microcell concentrating photovoltaics for space

Christian Ruud; Jeffrey Gordon; Chris Giebink

doi:10.1117/12.3028739

2 October 2024 microcell concentrating photovoltaics for space

Christian Ruud, Jeffrey Gordon, Chris Giebink

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume PC13132, Nonimaging Optics: Efficient Design for Illumination and Concentration XIX; PC131320D (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3028739
Event: Optical Engineering + Applications, 2024, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Rapid growth in the number of Earth-orbiting satellites with electric propulsion as well as plans for colonizing the Moon will dramatically increase the demand for solar photovoltaic (PV) power in space. Most of these missions will be commercially driven, heightening the need for PV systems that are more compact, lower-mass, more efficient, reliable, and affordable than ever before. In this talk, I will describe how microscale PV cells integrated with ultracompact concentrating optics offer a new opportunity to improve performance and reduce cost without sacrificing reliability. I will overview the unique constraints imposed on nonimaging concentrator design by operation in space and describe an experimental prototype <2 mm thick that achieves 26% power conversion efficiency at a geometric gain of 18x with a specific power ⪆100 W/kg and an acceptance angle of nearly ±10°.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Christian Ruud, Jeffrey Gordon, and Chris Giebink "microcell concentrating photovoltaics for space", Proc. SPIE PC13132, Nonimaging Optics: Efficient Design for Illumination and Concentration XIX, PC131320D (2 October 2024); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3028739

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