Fresnel Lens-based Solar Concentrators

In recent years, Fresnel lens has significantly improved solar energy consumption. The scientific community considers the imaging and non-imaging Fresnel lens as a solar concentrator. Compared to imaging, non-imaging concentrators usually have a larger acceptance angle, higher optical efficiency, and higher concentration ratios with less volume and shorter focal length. This paper summarizes the saga of the Fresnel lens for solar energy concentration technology. The optical design, fabrication methods, and challenges associated with the Fresnel lens are described in the context of numerous applications including daylighting, photovoltaic (PV), solar-powered lasers, space-concentrated PV, and hydrogen generation.