Photovoltaic news and pv jobs

Soitec completes Italy’s largest CPV power plant

International semiconductor developer Soitec reported at the Intersolar Europe trade show today that it has completed what it claims is Italy’s largest concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) power plant in Sicily. The company says that the 1.17 megawatt (MW) power plant, "paves the way for many other CPV plants to be developed in the country."

CPV optimizes output in circumstances where land and water are at a premium, claims Soitec.

Semprius

Soitec’s utility-scale CPV power plant employs 74 of the company’s CPV trackers and 168 of its Concentrix CPV modules. According to a statement, the multijuntion solar cells and dual-axis tracking systems, "maximize energy production throughout the day".

In the statement, the Soitec’s Gaetan Borgers said that the plant demonstrates the advantages of CPV. "This project has allowed us to show that CPV’s leading efficiency and ability to provide a steady, long-term energy supply without consuming excessive amounts of land and water make it exactly the right technology for Italy."

Soitec will own and operate the CPV power plant, which will supply electricity to the utility Enel. Two 500 MW Schneider Electric inverters were used in the installation.