ISFOC currently owns all the necessary equipment to carry out the evaluation of CPV technology. This evaluation is held both at module level as well as at the whole system or concentrator's level (tracking system plus modules), and regardless if they are connected or not.
At the concentrator's level, the same characterisation in real operation conditions can be held, apart from comparing it with the results obtained for the module. With this info, an initial analysis can be made of the concentrator’s performance by identifying the main factors of energy losses, such as misalignment between the framework modules or dispersion between them, inverter losses, or wiring faults.
Module evaluation consists in rating the Nominal Power in standard measuring conditions as well as checking and determining the performance in different operative conditions that may occur in different CPV technology locations. All the tasks are being carried out in compliance with the IEC 62670 standard, "Concentration Photovoltaic (CPV) Module and Assembly Performance Testing and Energy Rating," that is being currently developed with the active participation of ISFOC, which is feeding back its results to the Scientific International Committee.
ISFOC currently owns all the necessary equipment to carry out the evaluation of CPV technology. This evaluation is held both at the module level as well as at the whole system or concentrator's level (tracking system plus modules), and regardless if they are connected or not.