Solar energy harvesting system using luminescent solar concentrator with distributed outcoupling structures and microoptical elements

A solar energy harvesting system (200) including a luminescent solar concentrator (100) for generating light emissions in response to received sunlight, and for redirecting and concentrating the light emissions onto a predetermined target (e.g., a PV cell). The luminescent solar concentrator includes a light-guiding slab (110) containing a luminescent material that generates the light emissions, spaced-apart outcoupling structures (130) that provide a distributed outcoupling of the light emissions through predetermined locations on one of the "broadside" (e.g., upper or lower) surfaces of the light-guiding slab, and optical elements (140) positioned to redirect the outcoupled light emissions such that the light emissions are concentrated onto the predetermined target.