| abstract |
Disclosed are apparatuses, systems and methods for dual purpose solar energy harvesting combining electricity and heat generation and uses of the harvested energy. The solar energy system comprises a sun tracking light concentrator concentrating the solar radiation to a substantially parallel concentrated beam; a spectral filter directing photons of the concentrated beam substantially having energies readily convertible to electricity towards a photovoltaic cell and photons of the concentrated beam substantially having energies not readily convertible to electricity towards a light absorber. The system further comprises a cell cooler for maintaining low photocell temperature and solar heat remover for removing heat from the light absorber. |