UQ Solar Array

About

OVERVIEW A seven-metre by six-metre Concentrating Photovoltaic Array has been installed on Sir Fred Schonell Dr, adjacent to UQ’s multistorey carparks. The ground-mounted array tracks the sun across the sky each day and had its first full-sun, non-cloudy day on 23 March 2011, allowing it to be calibrated to the sun and to start generating power.   BACKGROUND   The 8.4 kilowatt CPV array is valued at about $90,000 and has been donated by Ingenero, the Brisbane firm that won the contract to install the PV solar array across four rooftops at UQ St Lucia.  UQ's is one of only 31 CPV tracking panels in Australia; the other 30 are at the Alice Springs Airport (also installed by Ingenero).   MECHANISM   The CPV tracking panel uses different technology to the rest of the UQ Solar array: It is made up of 28 parabolic focussing, photovoltaic modules, each with 20 individual reflectors and a high-efficiency triple-junction semiconductor solar cell. It is motor-driven on a dual axis to keep it closely aligned with the sun so optimum solar harvesting is ensured.   OPPORTUNITY In general, the CPV array is more efficient than traditional PV panels when the sun is shining, but less efficient than traditional panels on overcast days. Having the two different types of technology operating side by side will allow a range of comparative data to be produced.