ABSTRACT
A 20 kW photovoltaic concentrator has been constructed at Rockingham near Perth in Western Australia. The array is a Trough concentrator with a total collection area of 150 m2. The system comprises foundations, a two axis tracking structure incorporating mirrors & supports and an aluminium passive heat sink receiver with solar cells mounted on the under surface. The primary goal for the construction of the array was to provide a focus for the development of a supplier base for the PV/Trough concentrator system. It also demonstrates the viability of the technology with a view to marketing arrays. With the exception of the tracking controller all PV/trough components have been sourced from Australian companies.
