Frequently Asked Questions
1 - What is "CPV" and how is it different from other solar technology?
2 - In what countries can the technology be implemented?
3 - What are the advantages of Whitfield Solar as compared to other solar technologies?
4 - What are the electricity production costs of the Whitfield Solar module technology? How do they compare to the costs of silicon flat modules?
5 - Who developed the Whitfield Solar technology?
6 - Where is Whitfield Solar manufacturing operations located?
7 - How much electricity is produced by The WSi 24 Whitfield Solar technology?
8 - Is there a minimum system size or minimum purchase quantity?
9 - How much area do I need for my installation?
10 - What maintenance is required?
11 - Can I install the Whitfield Solar collector on the roof of my house or my business?
12 - What guarantee is offered by Whitfield Solar?
1-What is "CPV" and how is it different from other solar technology?
CPV stands for concentrator photovoltaic. A concentrating photovoltaic system converts sunlight into electrical energy the same way that conventional photovoltaic technology does.
The difference in the technologies lies in the addition of an optical system that focuses the sunlight onto individual photovoltaic cells. Also, the solar cells used in CPV systems are different from ordinary silicon PV cells as they are capable of converting higher intensities of sunlight into energy and usually at higher efficiencies than conventional solar cells.
The optics in a concentrator system are significantly less expensive than the cost of photovoltaic cells. The smaller the cell area used, the lower the potential overall cost of the system.
2-In what countries can the technology be implemented?
The efficiency of the technology is dependent on seeing a high proportion of direct solar radiation. This is because only the radiation reaching the optics directly from the sun can be focused by the device. Therefore the technology is best installed in sunny countries such as Australia, Spain ,Portugal, Southern Italy, Greece, Turkey, North andSouth Africa, the Middle East.
Ideal locations are, for example, south of Madrid, Spain (40° 25’N, 3° 42’W) where over 1800 kWh/m²yr direct solar radiation is available. In the countries of central and northern Europe, there is more diffuse radiation and therefore too little direct solar radiation.
3-What are the advantages of Whitfield Solar as compared to other solar technologies?
Whitfield Solar technology offers the following advantages over other solar technologies:
• Lower costs for generating electricity
• Low weight concentrator solution for solar farms, rooftops and car parks.
• Due to concentration, the active solar cell area is reduced which results in a lower consumption of expensive semiconductor material.
• Lower embodied energy.
• Long term protection from material shortages such as silicon and solar glass
4-What are the electricity production costs of the Whitfield Solar module technology? How do they compare to the costs of silicon flat modules?
It is not the system cost but the long term electricity production cost that is decisive in making a comparison. This latter cost is determined by the amortization of the initial investment, the operating and maintenance.
For this reason, there is a much stronger relationship between the location i.e. the available solar radiation, than for flat plate solar modules. At sunny locations in Spain or Italy, customers can count on a higher yield than fixed flat plate systems of up to 25% at a good site.
5-Who developed the Whitfield Solar technology?
Whitfield Solar was created to commercialize three decades of research into low-cost solar concentrators by Dr George Whitfield from the University of Reading and to tap into the wealth of opportunities this pioneering technology offered. Dr Whitfield was joined by fellow company founders Dr Roger Bentley and Dr Clive Weatherby. They focused on developing cost-effective PV concentrator systems by optimizing a wide range factor including the size of optical aperture and concentration ratios. In addition the research at Reading addressed the realities and challenges of manufacture.
6-Where is Whitfield Solar manufacturing operations located?
Whitfield Solar manufacturing operations are located near Brescia, Italy
7-How much electricity is produced by The WSi 24 Whitfield Solar technology?
The amount of electricity produced is strongly dependent on the location. Whitfield Solar concentrators are especially suitable for use in regions having a large fraction of direct solar radiation, and give high energy outputs even at high ambient temperatures.
For locations with an annual direct normal irradiance (DNI) of 2580 kWh/m².yr, the electricity yield per installed AC nominal power is 2107 kWh/kWp.yr.
8-Is there a minimum system size or minimum purchase quantity?
There is no minimum purchase quantity.
9-How much area do I need for my installation?
Typically for a ground installation of 90 KWp, an area between 2800 m²-3100 m² is necessary in order to optimally lay out the system in rows and avoid significant shading loss. (This area depends on the latitude angle of the installations and the shape)
10-What maintenance is required?
The units are designed to operate automatically and without the need for regular user intervention. It is sensible to carry out regular inspections checking for the following: the buildup of dust and dirt, correct and consistent operation and any signs of damage to the lenses
11-Can I install the Whitfield Solar collector on the roof of my house or my business?
The Whitfield collector is ideal for low sloped or flat roof industrial buildings with a variety of roof coverings. It is not suitable for domestic houses with sloop tiled roofs or greater than 15° sloping roofs but flat roof homes of a reasonable size are suitable.
12-What guarantee is offered by Whitfield Solar?
The Installation will be covered by a guarantee given by the system installer, Whitfield do not install systems but work in partnership with systems installation specialist.
Whitfield guarantee the product and its performance over time and this guarantee should be passed on to you as the end user.
The guarantee covers the output lower generation of the product for a period of 20 years.