The concept of Concentrated Photovoltaic (CPV) systems is to use low
cost optics to increase the light incident onto the very high
efficiency semiconductor solar cell material, thus reducing overall
cost of the system while increasing energy output.
The concentration factor, denoted by X, is a measure
of the increased light intensity on the semiconductor cell. X equals
approximately the area of the optic collector divided by area of the
semiconductor solar cell. ZenithSolar system is designed to a
concentration factor of 1000 X.
The ZenithSolar optical dish is based on a patented
design, utilizing multiple simple flat mirrors mounted on a plastic
surface. The molded plastic surface, divided into four quadrants, is
fixed onto a rigid, high precision metal frame assembled onto an
azimuth - elevation solar tracking system.
The concentrated solar radiation is reflected from
each individual mirror onto an array of solar cells. ZenithSolar uses
field proven high efficiency multi-junction III-V solar cells.
In conventional CPV systems, the excess heat
generated in the solar cell needs to be removed to avoid damaging the
cell and to maintain high efficiency of electricity conversion.
ZenithSolar utilizes the heat generated at the solar cell receiver to
provide usable hot water heating, improving overall solar power
conversion efficiency to 75%
One of the markets on which ZenithSolar focuses is gated communities.
Real estate developers of gated communities are interested in providing
high quality and centralized services to the residences - including
electricity and hot water.
In a gated community deployment, each ZenithSolar
module can provide the majority of the electricity and hot water needs
of a standard household. ZenithSolar is currently installing its first
commercial pilot at a gated community in Israel - called Kibbutz Yavne.
ZenithSolar has identified hospitality markets - including hotels,
resorts, hospitals, and other vertical markets - as a large and
receptive target.
Due to the high and constant need for high
temperature hot water in those markets - the ZenithSolar system has
been identified as an ideal clean energy solution for the hospitality
market. ZenithSolar expects to launch a commercial pilot site at one or
more hospitality location towards the end of 2009.
So what if production costs can be reduced and that way maybe with the money from donations or NGO it would be possible to install a few in some african villages, stressing the importance of taking care of the system and how it is helping them.
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