A review of thermal load and performance characterisation of a high concentrating photovoltaic (HCPV) solar receiver assembly

•Thermal load and the approaches of prediction/measuring solar cell temperature is presented.•An overview of development on the technology of solar CPV receiver is presented.•The reliability of HCPV solar cells is highly effects on the lifespan of the entire system.•Performance characterisation of solar CPV receiver assembly is described.•Highlighted on the development of triple-junction solar cells compound. The performance behaviour of solar concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) is an important element for the design and development of solar devices and system. A CPV receiver assembly consists of layers of solar cell materials and some the receivers equipped with heat exchanger, used to dissipate heat and prevent the cells from overheating. CPV receiver have better conversion efficiency than non-concentrating devices and could, therefore, make a greater contribution to renewable energy sources. However, there is a trade-off between efficiency and cost for non-concentrated (conventional PV) systems and CPV. The performance behaviour of CPV at various environmental operating conditions needed for the accurate estimation of the energy yield from a CPV over its lifetime. Besides, a better understanding of the CPV device performance is necessary to continually improve system efficiency. The paper is also highlight on thermal effects and the effective thermal management of concentrating photovoltaic assemblies, in which changeable with environmental conditions. Moreover, numerical and experimental studies related to the thermal performance behaviour of HCPV receiver assembly are analysed. Thus, these investigations are significant to understand the operating behaviour, in turn, that leads to improving the design of CPV receivers.