Concentrix Solar GmbH was a German solar power company based in Freiburg, Germany, that specialized in developing and commercializing concentrator photovoltaics (CPV) technology. In December 2009, Concentrix Solar was acquired by the French Soitec Group.[1] In January 2015, Soitec announced its intention to exit from the CPV business, citing a lack of sales due to competition from lower-cost conventional photovoltaics.[2][3] An agreed sale of the business to Chinese firm ConcenSolar (an entity having ties with Suncore Photovoltaics) in May 2015 was not completed.[4][5] In January 2017, the technology and manufacturing assets were acquired by Saint-Augustin Canada Electric (a former General Electric subsidiary).[6]
History
Concentrix Solar was founded in 2005, as a spin-off company of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE. Concentrix Solar builds large concentrator solar power plants suitable for sunny areas.[7] In 2007, Concentrix Solar was awarded the Innovation Award of the German Economy for its CPV technology.[8] From February 2006 to December 2009, the investment company Good Energies was invested in Concentrix Solar.[9] Abengoa Solar was an investor of Concentrix Solar from November 2007 to December 2009.[10]
Technology development
Concentrix concentrator photovoltaics (CPV) modules bundle sunlight up to 500 times with the use of Fresnel lenses and focus it on III-V based triple-junction solar cells (GaInP/GaInAs/Ge),[11] which then convert the light into electrical energy.[12] To ensure that the sunlight is concentrated precisely on the solar cell the CPV modules are installed on a two-axis sun tracking system.[13] With its technology, Concentrix Solar achieves a module efficiency of 27%.[14]
Technology commercialization
Concentrix's tracker and CPV module technologies have been installed in 28 countries worldwide.[15] The largest installation is the 44 MWp (36 MWAC) CPV1 generator completed in 2014 and located near Touws River, South Africa.[16] As of 2019, it is the second largest CPV power station in the world.[17]