New solar array enables efficient photoelectric conversion

Researchers at the University of Arizona have developed a new method of converting solar energy into usable electricity. They designed a new type of solar photovoltaic module. The new component uses a double-mirror technology that focuses sunlight into a small glass sphere and then diverges the solar light into high-efficiency solar cells so that the solar photovoltaic module can uniformly receive sunlight. Experimental data confirms that the entire assembly can provide twice the output power of a normal solar module.

This solar cell module is mounted on a rack system that can track sunlight. A graduate student at the School of Optical Sciences at the University of Arizona explained that this is a fully automated tracking. Two-sided mirrors have been used in solar thermal power stations, but such mirrors must be specially designed. The purpose of such mirrors is to concentrate sunlight.

In addition, this method can also get extra solar heat and can be used for other applications. Preliminary tests have shown that a component with a double mirror can generate enough energy for use in two homes.