A Study of CPV Potential in India
Abstract
This paper attempts to identify the regions in India that are suitable for Concentrated PV (CPV) applications. Technical advantage of a CPV system is compared against its competitor, non-concentrating tracked PV and fixed tilt angle PV systems. Satellite based databases are used for obtaining solar radiation data at 106 locations in India. Hourly radiation values were used for calculating annual output from these technologies. Ambient temperature effects on PV performance were also considered in the evaluation. DNI radiation ratio and diffuse radiation ratio parameters were used to identify regions suitable for CPV and PV. Based on the existing nominal system level conversion efficiency values, CPV systems provided higher output for all regions in India compared to a tracked PV system and a fixed angle tilted PV system. A cut off value of radiation ratio has been defined beyond which benefit of a CPV system vanishes irrespective of its higher conversion efficiency. Cut off diffuse radiation ratio was found to be 0.6 and DNI ratio was found to be 0.55. This could be used a first cut criteria for deciding a region for its suitability for installing a CPV system. Due to the uncertainty in solar radiation values, a sensitivity analysis of output also has been carried out for these locations.