Six months after being installed, Sovitec's concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) system in Jordan continues to deliver impressive early results. Soitec hopes to establish its system as the premier choice for large-scale solar power plants in hot & arid regions & its successful negotiation of the Jordanian summer, where daytime temperatures can regularly exceed 35°C, has considerably enhanced its reputation. Despite running continuously, & being exposed to extreme levels of heat, sunshine & dust, Soitec's CPV recorded an average solar-to-grid efficiency of 21%, with daily peak efficiencies regularly reaching 25%, figures two to three times higher than standard photovoltaic installations. These numbers indicate that annual electricity yields will be around 2500kWh for every kW of installed nominal AC power. "Very high performance, even under very high temperatures, & the fact that our systems require no water at all for cooling are the two advantages to highlight in the MENA (Middle East & North African) region," said Hansjörg Lerchenmüller, senior VP of Soitec's Solar Energy Business Unit. "We have proven with real systems that our technology is best suited for the region, & we are ready for high-volume deployment."
