Concentrated Photovoltaic (CPV): A Sustainable Solution for Future Solar Energy

Energy has become a lifeline of modern time, and technological advancement is increasing its demand exponentially. In addition, global warming has changed patterns of energy requirements across the globe, and areas where only space heating was requested, are now seeing an added energy load in the form of space cooling. With our massive dependency on carbon-based fuels, to fulfil ever-increasing energy demand, such changing weather patterns will continue and become intense. Sustainable energy can revert such trends if its production is able to meet rising global energy demand.

One of the reasons for global warming is our huge dependency on carbon-based energy resources. Non-competency of conventional renewable energy technologies and their market dominance make it difficult to transition to sustainable energy. Conventional renewable energy systems are reaching their saturation limit of improvement, and yet they are unable to compete with carbon-based energy systems. To meet the ever increasing global demand of sustainable energy, novel technologies are requested to replace conventional renewable energy systems. Solar Energy has the potential to meet rising global energy demand, and third generation Concentrated Photovoltaic (CPV) can provide highly efficient solar electricity, which is 3-4 times higher than the market dominant conventional photovoltaic technologies. With high power density, CPV systems are capable of providing compact solar energy solutions, with the potential to compete with fossil-based energy systems to lead towards a sustainable future in energy.

This Research Topic aims to introduce design and novel system approach and technologies in concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) research. The main areas covered in this Research Topic include, but are not limited to:

· Novel Concentrated Photovoltaic (CPV) System Designs
· CPV Hybrid Technologies and Applications
· CPV Concentrators (Lens designs, Reflectors, Optofluids)
· CPV Thermal Management
· CPV Production of Sustainable Fuels (Hydrogen, Formic Acid)