Concentrated photovoltaics

Concentrated photovoltaics (CPV) work like a magnifying glass, focusing sunlight onto a small area to generate electricity. Imagine you are holding a magnifying glass on a sunny day, and you point it at a piece of paper. The magnifying glass focuses the sun's rays onto the paper, causing it to heat up and eventually catch fire. CPV uses a similar concept but instead of heating the paper, the sun's rays are converted into electricity.

CPV systems use special lenses or mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto tiny, highly efficient solar cells. These cells are designed to transform more of the sun's energy into electricity than traditional solar cells. When the concentrated sunlight hits the cells, it generates an electrical charge that can be used to power homes, businesses, and other electrical devices.

To make CPV work effectively, the system needs to track the sun's movement across the sky. This is done by using sensors that detect the position of the sun and move the lenses or mirrors accordingly. By keeping the sunlight focused on the cells at all times, the system can generate more electricity than standard solar panels.

One advantage of CPV is that it uses less material to generate the same amount of electricity as traditional solar panels. This means that CPV systems can be smaller and take up less space. Additionally, they are often used in areas that receive a lot of direct sunlight, such as desert regions. This makes them an ideal option for areas with high energy demands.

In summary, concentrated photovoltaics use small, highly efficient solar cells and lenses or mirrors to focus sunlight onto a small area, generating electricity. The system tracks the sun's movement to ensure maximum efficiency and can be used in areas with high energy demands.