1 research outputs found
Origami Solar-Tracking Concentrator Array for Planar Photovoltaics
Solar-tracking concentrators
can potentially lead to low-cost photovoltaic
modules that minimize the use of costly semiconductor materials by
improving optical collection and coupling. However, solar concentrators
and accompanying trackers have proven to be expensive, bulky, and
heavy, thereby resulting in increased balance-of-system costs. Here
we demonstrate a lightweight and low-profile, and potentially low-cost
planar solar-tracking concentrator based on the ancient Japanese art
of origami. The tightly packed hexagonal concentrator and tracker
arrays are fabricated by cutting and folding thin reflecting sheets
that capture and direct concentrated light onto a small, high-efficiency
GaAs solar cell. The tracker enables single-axis solar tracking via
a simple one-dimensional translational motion of an actuator with
minimal energy expense (∼2.9 J/m<sup>2</sup>/day). Further,
we demonstrate stable operation over 10 000 cycles. The solar
concentrated cell achieves a 450% increase in diurnal energy output
compared with an equivalent, unconcentrated cell. The potentially
low cost and low profile of the origami concentrators may lead to
their wide deployment on rooftops and other building-integrated applications