Low Temperature Solar Modules

All solar cells have an ideal operating range in which they perform most efficiently. As The temperature increases, at the hottest times of the day or year, or when incoming sunlight is concentrated onto conventional cells, the cells lose efficiency and output less energy.

This effect is made even more dramatic by the construction of conventional solar panels, which typically include a metallized back plane that absorbs uncollected radiation or reflects it back into the panel. Unfortunately, at the times when irradiance is highest, conventional panels are at their least efficient.

In Prism's Generation II Dual Aperture HPC solar modules, 50-75% of the silicon is replaced with HPC Film, which diffracts usable wavelengths to the PV cell strips. HPC Film allows wavelengths that cannot be converted by the PV cells to pass through the module rather than being absorbed as heat. The cells operate close to their ideal temperature curve without mechanical cooling — even at 3X concentration.

The chart below shows the results of a side-by-side comparison of a conventional solar module and a Prism solar module. The Prism panel operated at a lower temperature throughout the day, and a full 27% cooler during the hottest hours.

Even in the full sun of an Arizona noon, Prism DA-HPC solar modules operate coolly, and efficiently.

Prism Solar's Tucson, Arizona facility is in the heart of Optics Valley. Tucson averages 350 days of sunshine per year