Concentrating sunlight is an elegant way of reducing the cost of photovoltaic energy generation. An optical system focuses the light onto a small semiconductor surface where it is converted into electrical energy. This arrangement reduces the comparatively expensive semiconductor surface by factors of 10 to 1000. Silicon solar cells are used in concentrator systems with low concentration factors of up to 100. Highly efficient III-V multi-junction solar cells are used in systems with high concentration ratios.

Solar cell assemblies mounted on a glass base plate with electrical contact via wire bonds. The solar cell is placed in the required position to an accuracy of 60 micrometers. In the market area of PV concentrator systems we are working on the further development of the entire technology chain, ranging from cells ( Si http://www.ise.fraunhofer.de/geschaeftsfelder-und-marktbereiche/silicium-photovoltaik/industrielle-und-neuartige-solarzellen/industrielle-und-neuartige-solarzellen and III-V http://www.ise.fraunhofer.de/geschaeftsfelder-und-marktbereiche/alternative-photovoltaik-technologien/iii-v-epitaxie-solarzellen-und-bauelemente/iii-v-solarzellen-und-bauelemente/iii-v-solarzellen-und-bauelemente ) through concentrator optics (http://www.ise.fraunhofer.de/geschaeftsfelder-und-marktbereiche/angewandte-optik-und-funktionale-oberflaechen/konzentratoroptik/konzentratoroptik), module production, and specific electronics to complete systems and monitoring. A key part of the technology is the development of concentrator modules, which is carried out at the Concentrator Technology & Evaluation Center (ConTEC) at Fraunhofer ISE. The principal areas of research at ConTEC involve optimizing design, production processes and the reliability of CPV modules.
We have a range of experimental methods at our disposal for characterizing CPV components.