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High-Concentrator Photovoltaic Power Plants: Energy Balance and Case Studies

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High Concentrator Photovoltaics

Part of the book series: Green Energy and Technology ((GREEN))

Abstract

High-concentrator photovoltaic (HCPV) power plants are inherently different from conventional photovoltaic (PV) power sources due to the use of concentrator modules and two-axis solar trackers. HCPV technology is a relatively new energy source; therefore, there is limited experience in its application in power plants. Bearing this in mind, this chapter aims to provide information about the special features and performance of HCPV power plants under real operating conditions. The analysis of current concentrator modules and solar trackers is addressed to achieve a better understanding of the main characteristics of this kind of systems. In addition, different methods for estimating the energy yield of an HCPV system or power plant are discussed. This is a crucial task to analyse the potential of such emerging technology. Finally, several HCPV power plants and relevant data concerning their energy yield and performance ratio (PR) are described and commented.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Jaén, Jaén, Spain

    Pedro Pérez-Higueras, Francisco J. Muñoz-Rodríguez, Leocadio Hontoria-García, Catalina Rus-Casas, Juan D. Aguilar-Peña & Francisco J. Gallego-Álvarez

  2. University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

    Eduardo F. Fernández

  3. University of Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain

    Carlos Adame-Sánchez, Antonio González-Rodríguez & Ivan González-Luchena

Authors
  1. Pedro Pérez-Higueras
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  2. Francisco J. Muñoz-Rodríguez
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  3. Carlos Adame-Sánchez
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  4. Leocadio Hontoria-García
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  5. Catalina Rus-Casas
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  6. Antonio González-Rodríguez
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  7. Juan D. Aguilar-Peña
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  8. Francisco J. Gallego-Álvarez
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  9. Ivan González-Luchena
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  10. Eduardo F. Fernández
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pedro Pérez-Higueras .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Jaén, Jaén, Spain

    Pedro Pérez-Higueras

  2. University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

    Eduardo F. Fernández

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Pérez-Higueras, P. et al. (2015). High-Concentrator Photovoltaic Power Plants: Energy Balance and Case Studies. In: Pérez-Higueras, P., Fernández, E. (eds) High Concentrator Photovoltaics. Green Energy and Technology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15039-0_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15039-0_16

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-15038-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-15039-0

  • eBook Packages: EnergyEnergy (R0)

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