spie.org - SPIE Optics + Photonics Conference Renowned telescope designer Roger Angel has turned his attention and telescope mirror technology to concentrating photovoltaics. Roger Angel is Regents Professor of Astronomy and Optical Sciences at the University of Arizona, where he directs the Steward Observatory Mirror Lab. He is also the founder and CEO of REhnu LLC, a company that is commercializing a new technology for concentrating solar. Angel is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and a Fellow of the Royal Society of London. His work in developing the new generation of large astronomical telescopes was recognized by a MacArthur fellowship and the 2010 Kavli Prize in Astrophysics. As a result of the latter, he was a guest at the White House in June 2011. In concentrating photovoltaics (CPV), sunlight is optically concentrated onto very small PV cells. Concentrator cells of exceptionally high efficiency are already manufactured commercially at very low cost per unit of power generated. The remaining challenge to reach the goal of $1/watt installed cost is to devise the supporting optomechanical system that can be manufactured and installed at low cost, to track the sun, concentrate the light on the cells and keep them cool. A farm will consist of many identical 20-kW tracking units. Each unit, assembled on-site from prefab-ricated steel and glass members, will carry eight square dish reflectors in a balanced, lightweight spaceframe structure. Soccer ball-sized ...
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