Cogem CPV

Stimulating the innovation potential of SMEs for a low carbon energy system

COGEM CPV – Project Abstract

The general objective of the proposed project is to develop “COGEM CPV”, an innovative heatspreader to be integrated in the context of High Concentration Photovoltaic (HCPV) technology. By adopting and applying new materials, particularly ceramics, it is estimated that a reduction of 25% in energy generation costs and an improvement of 3% in performance can be achieved.

By using new components, materials, and technologies, the proposed innovative system with reduce costs by eliminating certain parts and assembly process steps that currently contribute to the final cost of the manufactured heatspreader component.

The objective of Solergy in this project is to introduce a new approach to HCPV by resolving current technological issues and enabling HCPV to take its rightful place as the solar technology of choice for sunny regions. “COGEM CPV" will make an important contribution to the world’s first field upgradeable, 40+ year lifetime High Concentration Photovoltaic (HCPV) system.

This project has receveid funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 674311.

Project Details

Project number:674311
Status:Execution
Start date:June 1, 2015
Duration:24 months
Total cost:2,997,793 Euros
EU Contribution:2,098,455
Program acronym:Cogem CPVTM
Subprogram area:SIE-01-2014

 

Stimulating the innovation potential of SMEs for a low carbon energy system.

Motivation and Objectives

Conceptually, High Concentration Photovoltaic (HCPV) technology can offer the lowest cost of electricity of any solar energy generation technology in sunny areas. It combines maximal efficiency and energy production under high direct sunlight conditions with competitive installed cost. Unfortunately, thus far, HCPV has failed to deliver on its potential because of fundamental technological and scale-up shortcomings, and therefore deployments have been limited.

Through the “COGEM CPV”project, Solergy is introducing a new approach to HCPV that specifically resolves technological and cost issues related to the cell receiver and heatspreader components and helps enables HCPV to take its rightful place as the solar technology of choice for sunny regions.

The disruptive potential of “COGEM CPV” lies not only in its potential to greatly reduce the cost of solar electricity generation, but also in the ability to co-generate heat that can be applied for cooling, hot water, process heat, and higher efficiency desalination.

The objective of the proposed project is to develop an innovative Heat Spreader to be taken in the context of High Concentration Photovoltaic (HCPV) technology, through the adoption of new materials, particularly ceramics, that allow a reduction of energy production costs of about 25%, and an improvement on the performance at least of 3%.


In particular:

  • The reduction of production costs is due to the elimination of some components and some assembly process;
  • The improvement of performance is due to the reduction in cell operating temperature.

 

With the introduction of “COGEM CPV”, Solergy can tackle the challenges set out by the Work Programme and the resulting Energy and Climate targets for 2020 and beyond that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase the share of renewable energies, improve energy efficiency and, ultimately, contributing to the establishment of an energy system that will deliver a competitive, secure, and sustainable energy supply.



Activities

Key activities include:
  • Optimize the innovative design of “COGEM CPV” for performance & reliability through prototyping activities, focusing on ceramics-based heat-spreader coupled with Solergy’s unique all-glass lenses;
  • Pilot “COGEM CPV” prototypes to validate evolutive heat-spreader performance in the field;
  • Strengthen the current “COGEM CPV” IPR Strategy for the above-mentioned innovations, in particular regarding key geographical target markets;
  • Achieve maximum outreach through the dissemination of project results in support of future commercialization.

Contatti

Solergy Italia S.r.l.

Via degli Olmetti n. 46
00060 Roma - ITALY (IT)
Tel  +39 06 0697607764
info-italia@solergyinc.com

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