The impressisve 6 x 7 metre Solar Focus, or Concentrating Array, has 560 parabolic mirror units that target and concentrate sunlight several hundred-fold onto high efficiency, triple junction solar cells.

A tracking system points the array directly at the sun even when it's hidden by clouds.

The solar concentrating array works very well in bright sunshine. Incoming sunlight is reflected from the back parabolic mirror to a small slightly curved front mirror which in turn reflects the light back onto a solar cell located in a recess at the centre of the parabollic mirror.

Each unit has a clear plastic front cover to protect the mirrors and the solar cell.

This mirro- based system is not as effective as conventional flat PV modules on overcast and cloudy days as the parabollic mirrors can only "capture" direct sunlight; they cannot make use of scattered or diffuse light that is not travelling parallel with their central axis. 

That is why the concentrating array has a tracking mechanism that always points the parabollic mirrors directly at the sun. 

Having a concentrating array at St Lucia enables a direct comparison with the performance of other PV technologies.

The Concentrating Array is six metres wide and seven metres high.
The array has 560 parabolic mirror units that focus and concentrate sunlight several hundred-fold onto high efficiency triple junction solar cells.
The concentrating array has a tracking mechanism that always points the parabollic mirrors directly at the sun. 
A tracking system points the array directly at the sun even when it is hidden by clouds.
Site name UQ St. Lucia Campus
Building / location Solar Concentrating Array -Sir Fred Schonell Drive
Suburb / city St. Lucia, Brisbane QLD, 4067
Nominal DC output 8.4 kWp
Module area 48 m2
Start-up date 23/03/2011
Visible on Live Data display Yes
Date connected to display 12/06/2011
Site longitude 153°00'42" E
Site latitude 27°29'41" S
Height above sea level 18 m
Time zone AEST
Type of installation Mounted on Trackers off the Ground
Tracking system Dual Axis Tracker
Tilt Variable
Orientation Variable
Module make & model SolFocus SF-1100S
Module technology Concentrating Photovoltaic Array (CPV)
Module size 8000 x 6000 mm
Number of modules 28
Inverter make & model Aurora Power-One PVI-10.0-OUTD
Number of inverters 1