Optics for solar concentrators

An optic for use with a solar energy collector in a solar concentrator, the optic comprising:

• a light guide of light transmissive material, the light guide comprising
• a first surface;
• a second surface opposite the first surface;
• a light coupling area for emitting light from the light guide;
• and
• a peripheral edge;
• a redirecting layer comprising a plurality of lenses, the redirecting layer being optically attached to the first surface of the light guide;
• a plurality of reflector elements made of light transmissive material of lower refractive index than the material of the light guide, the reflector elements optically connected to a portion of the second surface of the light guide having a downward slope equal to or less than the average downward slope of the second surface between the peripheral edge and the light coupling area, each reflector element being associated with a lens of the redirecting layer and having a reflective surface for receiving light focused thereon by the associated lens, the reflective surface reflecting the received light into the light guide for transmission therein toward the solar energy collector;
• wherein the light being transmitted within the light guide can undergo total internal reflection at the interface between the second surface of the light guide and the optically connected surface of the reflector element;
• and
• a light conditioning element for receiving light from the light coupling area of the light guide and collecting the received light onto the solar energy collector.