March 12, 2014 | By Barbara Vergetis Lundin

Consistent improvements in technology and gradually lower costs will drive high-concentration photovoltaic (HCPV) systems will give conventional solar generating solutions a run for their money due to superior efficiencies, consistent improvements in technology, and gradually lower costs, according to research from IHS Technology.

The cell efficiency of HCPV systems, currently at 40 to 42 percent, will exceed 45 percent by 2017, IHS predicts, leading to commercial system efficiencies approaching 40 percent, compared to the typical less than 35 percent conversion rates.

"Efficiency is the most important requirement in CPV technology in order to generate competitive energy costs," said Karl Melkonyan, photovoltaic analyst at IHS. "And with the solar industry continuing to be firmly engaged in a quest for ongoing improvements through the development of new technologies, the efficiency of HCPV cells will advance over the years."

However, the gains in efficiency will have to be balanced against the additional manufacturing costs expected to be incurred when implementing the improvements, he added.

IHS forecasts that the United States and Central America will install the largest number of HCPV systems between 201 and 2017, serving as the world's biggest regional market where installations reached 54.1 MW in 2012.

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