This project, funded under the California Energy Commission’s Gas Research and Development Program, aimed to develop and demonstrate a low-cost, high-concentration photovoltaic and thermal (HCPVT) system for industrial cogeneration. The system integrates solar thermal and photovoltaic technologies into a single receiver, enabling simultaneous generation of electricity and thermal energy within a compact footprint.
Skyven Technologies led the design, testing, and pilot deployment of the system. The project followed a phased approach, beginning with component-level testing of triple-junction solar cells, optical homogenizers, and a custom heat sink manifold. Integrated system testing demonstrated a combined efficiency of up to 56 percent, with peak electrical and thermal efficiencies of 13 and 43 percent, respectively. Reliability and durability testing confirmed the system’s resilience to environmental stressors, including pressure, water ingress, mechanical load, and thermal cycling.
A pilot installation at Fresno State University was installed to validate real-world performance, with the system averaging 138,000 British thermal units and 7.54 kilowatt-hour (kWh) of average weekly output over six months. The pilot system demonstrated a weekly average combined efficiency of 51.3 percent with peak electrical and thermal efficiencies of 12 and 39.3 percent, respectively. Economic analysis showed a levelized cost of electricity of $0.28/kWh and a levelized cost of heat of $0.084/kWh.
The project supports California’s clean energy and climate goals by enabling distributed, onsite renewable energy generation. Benefits to utility ratepayers include reduced grid and pipeline congestion and improved energy resilience.
