Docter Optics, a unique vendor of CPV Concentrators, at SPI 2011

Those decades of unique experience have enabled Docter Optics to develop proprietary technology for the production of optical glass components. And, that makes Docter Optics the only company in the world with the resources it takes to permit economical production of optical glass concentrators (light pipes) for concentrated photovoltaics (CPV) systems in virtually any number.



CPV is a technology that is becoming increasingly important when it comes to using solar energy to produce electricity. One reason why is that CPV systems are especially well suited for the construction of solar power plants in regions with plentiful direct sunlight since they are not only significantly more efficient than conventional photovoltaic systems but also feature various other benefits.



Today, many CPV designs are based on the use of optical glass concentrators (light pipes) that bundle light and focus the rays on special solar cells to produce electricity. Because of the high energy density of these rays, it is always advisable to use a glass that is not susceptible to cloudiness (solarization).



The special glass used by Docter Optics for the production of these concentrators (light pipes) is the choice of preference for the CPV industry because of its optical characteristics and because it features low solarization.



This special optical glass, which is produced with the use of a process especially developed for this purpose, is immediately ready molded into concentrators (light pipes) when it leaves the furnace. Although this may sound simple, it requires unique expertise that only Docter Optics has managed to acquire in the course of decades of experience in industrial scale production of projector lenses for the automotive industry.



The process developed by Docter Optics is especially suitable for the CPV industry since it permits molding of optical glass components in virtually any shape or form, including free-form lenses  complex surface geometries.