Development and experimental characterization of a c-Si low concentrator photovoltaic receiver for wireless laser power transmission (WLPT) under non-uniform irradiance of 808 nm

This work presents the experimental characterization of a low concentrator photovoltaic (LCPV) receiver based on a 3 × 3 array of c-Si IBC solar cells for Wireless Laser Power Transmission (WLPT) using an 808 nm laser source. The receiver incorporates a crossed compound parabolic concentrator (CCPC) to enhance optical coupling under static but inherently non-uniform laser irradiance. Comprehensive optical, thermal, and electrical measurements were carried out to evaluate beam distribution, angular response, and interconnection performance. The results show that the Gaussian beam profile produces significant photocurrent variations among the cells, while voltage and fill factor remain relatively uniform. Three interconnection strategies were assessed, revealing that current-based ring grouping minimizes mismatch losses to below 3% and achieves power output comparable to the ideal independent-cell case. In contrast, series and parallel layouts suffer considerably higher losses. In addition, the CCPC provides a wide angular acceptance with high efficiency preserved for beam deviation angles up to ± 30°. The receiver reached power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of 15.6–16.3% at 806 nm, approaching the theoretical limit of 17.8–18.4% at the optimum wavelength (∼955 nm). These findings demonstrate the feasibility of employing low-concentrator optics in WLPT receivers and underline the critical role of current-homogeneous grouping and tailored power management strategies to achieve efficient and reliable WLPT operation.