Novel integration of mono-facial solar PV panels at the back of heliostat mirrors in radial staggered fields

Salilih E.M.; Leon-Salas W.D.; Postigo-Malaga M.; Cornejo M.V.; Pichu M.O.; Gonzalez L.G.R. · Energy Conversion and Management: X (2026) · DOI: 10.1016/j.ecmx.2026.102343

Resumen

This study proposes a novel hybrid solar-thermal-PV system integrating mono-facial PV panels on the rear side of heliostat mirrors within a radially staggered field. The system operates in two modes: Primary Mode, where heliostats reflect direct normal irradiance (DNI) to a receiver while the rear PVs capture diffuse and reflected radiation, and Secondary Mode, where mirrors rotate horizontally during low DNI to maximize global horizontal irradiance (GHI) capture. A validated single-diode electrical model was simplified into a fast five-order polynomial regression for electrical power output prediction. A heliostat field layout is generated with SolarPILOT and detailed view factor analysis is carried out to analyze solar irradiance distribution to the PV panels across the 44 radial rows. This analysis showed that during primary operation, irradiance and power output from the PV arrays increases with radial distance due to higher view factor associated with larger radial spacing. During cloudy conditions, irradiance becomes uniform across rows, and total power output is proportional to the number of mirror/PV units per row. The daily energy output showed significant seasonal variation, ranging from 86.7 to 763.8 MW·h·day⁻1 annually, and peak energy production occurring at the beginning and end of the year. The proposed hybrid concept enhances land-use efficiency and offers a promising hybrid solution for improving overall solar field energy utilization.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa