Hybrid solar power system using photovoltaic and thermal concentration

A hybrid photovoltaic (PV) and thermal energy collection system, the system comprising:

• a plurality of bi-facial PV cells arranged in a first plane, each PV cell having a first face to directly accept incident light and a second face to accept reflected light;
• a plurality of arcuate dichroic splitters underlying the first plane, each dichroic splitter having a first face to reflect R band wavelengths of light to the second face of corresponding PV cells, and a second face transmitting T band wavelengths of light;
• a plurality of optical units underlying the dichroic splitters, each optical unit having a first face to accept T band light from corresponding dichroic splitters, and a second face to transmit focused T band light;
• and,
• a thermal collection tube to accept focused T band light.

A method for hybrid photovoltaic (PV) and thermal energy collection, the method comprising:

• providing a plurality of PV cells arranged in a first plane accepting incident light;
• the PV cells converting the accepted light to electrical energy;
• providing a plurality of optical units, arranged adjacent to the PV cells, accepting incident light;
• the optical units focusing T band wavelengths of the accepted incident light;
• the optical units transmitting the focused T band light wavelengths;
• providing a light funnel accepting the focused T band light wavelengths;
• the light funnel transmitting concentrated T band wavelengths of light;
• and,
• providing a thermal collection tube converting the concentrated T band wavelengths of light to thermal energy.

A method for hybrid photovoltaic (PV) and thermal energy collection, the method comprising:

• providing a plurality of bi-facial PV cells arranged in a first plane, each PV cell having a first face accepting incident light;
• the PV cells first face converting incident light to electrical energy;
• providing a plurality of arcuate dichroic splitters underlying transparent spaces in the first plane, each dichroic splitter having a first face reflecting R band wavelengths of light;
• the PV cells having a second face accepting reflected R band wavelength light;
• the PV cells second face converting reflected R band wavelengths of light to electrical energy;
• the dichroic splitters having a second face transmitting T band wavelengths of light;
• providing a plurality of optical units underlying the dichroic splitters, each optical unit having a first face accepting T band wavelengths of light from corresponding dichroic splitters;
• the optical units focusing the accepted T band wavelengths of light;
• the optical units having a second face transmitting the focused T band light wavelengths;
• and,
• providing a thermal collection tube converting focused T band wavelengths to thermal energy.