Advanced fluorescent concentrators

We present an advanced concept for fluorescent concentrator systems, which aims for higher efficiencies by utilization of the full solar spectrum. Key features are spectrally matched solar cells, new materials and a photonic structure, which increases the fraction of light guided to the rims of the concentrator. We introduce a new method for material characterization and show first experimental results of fluorescent concentrator solar cell systems. A system with GaInP solar cells at the rims of a fluorescent concentrator and a silicon solar cell at the bottom had an efficiency as high as 17.7%, whereas the fluorescent concentrator system significantly increased total system efficiency. The application of a Rugate filter with a reflection band in the emission range of the fluorescent dye increased the internal light guiding efficiency of the concentrator by 11%.