Patent ID: 7076965

Claim:
A system for generating electrical power from solar radiation which includes: (a) a receiver that includes (i) a plurality of modules, each module including a plurality of photovoltaic cells for converting solar energy into electrical energy, (ii) an electrical circuit for transferring the electrical energy output of the photovoltaic cells, and (iii) a frame that supports the modules in an array of modules so that the photovoltaic cells form an at least substantially continuous surface that is exposed to solar radiation; and (b) a means for concentrating solar radiation onto the receiver; and the system being characterised in that each module includes an electrical connection that forms part of the receiver electrical circuit, each module includes a support structure that supports the photovoltaic cells, the receiver includes a coolant circuit for cooling the photovoltaic cells with a coolant, the coolant circuit includes a coolant flow path in each module that is in thermal contact with the photovoltaic cells so that in use coolant flowing through the flow path extracts heat from the photovoltaic cells and thereby cools the cells, and the support structure in each module defines the coolant flow path for the module.