Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems
10 Aug 2006
Location: ANU, Canberra.
The Big Dish
1000 times solar concentrator, 400kW solar radiation (100kW electrical output).
Horizontal and vertical tracking system based on time of day data.
CHAPS Solar Concentrator
CHAPS (Combined Heat and Power Solar) 5kW power, 20kW heat per trough
Concentrator cell (used at 30-40 suns concentration). Max output approx. 40A (size about 4x6cm). Sliver cell version is also being developed.
Max Klemke from CIT inspecting a CHAPS trough
CHAPS receiver (operating at approx. 65 deg. C). Integrated water pipe behind absorbs excess heat and thus maintains operating temperature within the cell's requirements.
Solar concentrator cell being manufactured in the lab.
Silicon slice with initial photoetching visible. The raw slices are bought for about $13 each and after manufacturing will produce two concentrator cells.
Silicon slivers ready to be made into a "Sliver Cell".
ANU researcher shows us a finished "Sliver Cell" module that uses less than half as much silicon as a conventional monocrystaline cell yet produces a comparable amount of power.
Solar tiles technology. Each "tile" can be used for either PV electrical, solar hotwater or space heating.