Utility-friendly hybrid energy conversion system for apportioning concentrated solar radiation in real time upon selective demand between a plurality of solar energy conversion devices, including a photovoltaic receiver

Abstract

Extremely fast dynamic control is allowed for hybrid PV/T (photovoltaic/thermal) distributed power production using concentrated solar power by manipulating the transmissive or reflective state of a capture element or mirror or lens that can pass highly concentrated solar light from one energy conversion device to another, such as a thermal collector and a photovoltaic receiver, such as a vertical multijunction cell array. This allows superior quality electrical backfeed into an electric utility, enhanced plant electrical production revenue, and responsiveness to a multitude of conditions to meet new stringent engineering requirements for distributed power plants. The mirror or lens can be physically articulated using fast changing of a spatial variable, or can be a fixed smart material that changes state. A mechanical jitter or variable state jitter can be applied to the capture element, including at utility electric grid line frequency.