SBIR Phase I: Reactive Optics for Solar Concentrators

这个小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目旨在通过将经过验证的光伏电池与使用智能“反应”光学材料的新型聚光光学器件配对，开发一种新型低成本太阳能发电模块。 反应材料自动调整太阳入射，改变聚光器的光学特性，以跟踪太阳随时间的位置。 通过将这种跟踪功能嵌入到集中器中，而不是使用昂贵且笨重的机械跟踪器，这种方法能够在固定安装的模块中实现高集中度，并显著降低整体系统成本。 第一阶段研究计划的目标是通过模拟和实验验证反应光学器件的设计，并构建和测试太阳能集中器的功能原型。 该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力主要在光伏发电领域，尽管光学系统的其他应用也很可能。 根据该计划开发的反应式太阳能集中器预计将使太阳能发电模块的成本低至每瓦0.40美元（直射阳光），与当前模块相比，节省约50%至75%。 这种成本的降低有助于刺激光伏发电使用的快速增长，这将带来广泛的经济，环境和国家安全利益，并将加速太阳能行业的就业增长。 反应式太阳能集中器技术还可以提供轻质高功率太阳能模块，其独特地适合于要求苛刻的离网现场应用，并且可以根据需要容易地运输和部署。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project seeks to develop a new type of low-cost solar power module by pairing proven photovoltaic cells with novel concentrating optics that make use of smart "reactive" optical materials. The reactive materials adjust automatically to solar incidence, changing the optical properties of the concentrator in order to track the solar position over time. By embedding this tracking function within the concentrator, rather than using expensive and bulky mechanical trackers, this approach enables high concentration to be achieved in modules with stationary mounting and significantly reduces overall system costs. The objectives of the Phase I research plan are to validate the design of the reactive optics, through both simulation and experimentation, and to build and test functional prototypes of the solar concentrator. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is primarily in the field of photovoltaic power, although other applications of the optical system are also likely. The reactive solar concentrator to be developed under this program is predicted to result in solar power module costs as low as $0.40 per peak watt (in direct sunlight), a savings of approximately 50% to 75% compared to current modules. This cost reduction can help spur rapid growth of photovoltaic power usage, which will bring a wide range of economic, environmental, and national security benefits and will accelerate job growth within the solar power industry. The reactive solar concentrator technology may also provide lightweight high-power solar modules that are uniquely suited to demanding off-grid field applications and that can be easily transported and deployed as needed.