ABSTRACT
Cogeneration or the utilization of concentrators in conjunction with high-efficiency III-V-compound solar cells represents a method to increase panel efficiency. This increase is significant as compared to flat-plate solar cell arrays. The optical collection of the solar rays replaces the collection by large area photovoltaics. Thus, small but efficient solar cells can be used and operated at a point of better efficiency of their characteristics. Tracking allows the optimization of power over a whole day. The usual cooling system is a copper tube to which all solar cells are attached. This tube can serve simultaneously as a base contact for all parallel cells while the top contacts need an additional bus bar. Tracker systems working with quadrant detectors or four small solar cells around a shadow bar are very reliable. Their activation is automatic with the sun's position. The energy for the small electrical motors which correct the panel position is activated by a separate solar cell and battery.
