FLATCON® CPV module with 36.7% efficiency equipped with four-junction solar cells

In this paper we present the application of high efficiency four-junction solar cells using SOITEC bonding technology under a Fresnel lens optic and in a FLATCON (R)-type CPV module. We demonstrate very high performance. The measurement of a sub-module, consisting of a four-junction solar cell adjusted under a single Fresnel lens, showed an efficiency of 38.9%. An 829.6 cm(2) sized FLATCON (R)-type CPV module yielded in an efficiency of 35.0% and 36.7% at CSOC and CSTC, respectively. Thus, both, the sub-module and the CPV module showed record values, which prove the usefulness of high efficiency four-junction solar cells in CPV applications. Copyright (C) 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.