Based in Las Vegas, USA, the Center for Energy Research is a focus area for research, information exchange, and education in energy topics. Issues of particular interest to their geographical region include more general topics such as: solar energy utilization schemes, arid regions energy systems (e.g. dry cooling considerations), advanced cooling concepts (e.g. refrigeration systems that do not use CFCs), and nuclear waste issues are of particular importance. On a broader application basis, conventional power generation systems, energy conservation devices and systems, and environmental control issues for energy systems are of interest. The Center serves as a generator and catalyst for ideas, a stimulus for interdisciplinary cooperation, and a facilitator for commercialization. One of their current projects concerns a 38.1-kW Integrated High Concentration Photovoltaic (IHCPV) concentrated solar power system. This system, from Amonix, features five modular HCPV panels, each rated at 8 kW DC at a direct normal irradiance of 850 W/m2. The modular design is referred to as Amonix's MegaModule. A live image of the system is to the right. (when on their website - image updated every 30 seconds.) Most common PV systems are stationary flat-plate "one-sun" systems (as seen on roof-tops). "One-sun" systems are normally costly, covered in expensive solar cells, and rely upon the direct illumination of the entire surface. Unlike "one-sun" systems, "concentrator" systems use an intermediary (e.g. Fresnel lens) between the sun and the cell to focus sunlight onto a small solar cell (500) times smaller than one-sun cell area) effectively substituting inexpensive plastic lenses in place of expensive silicon solar cells. The efficiency of any solar-electric system increases if the sun is tracked (in order to absorb the most direct normal light), and this system additionally performs sun tracking. The Amonix system is an example of a "concentrator" system. It uses a tracking (not stationary) concentration scheme by use of a proprietary hydraulically-driven tracker and by "integrating" the lens, solar cell, and solar receiver plate into a single unit. To view a list of current research solar projects from the Centre for Energy Research, please visit the above-mentioned website.
