Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic Systems

Solar thermal and photovoltaic systems convert sunlight into usable heat and electricity through technologies ranging from rooftop collectors to large concentrated solar power plants that focus sunlight onto a central receiver to drive turbines. Improving how efficiently these systems capture, store, and transfer energy sits at the heart of current research, with work spanning hybrid photovoltaic-thermal panels that harvest both heat and electricity simultaneously, phase change materials that store excess thermal energy for later use, and nanofluids that enhance heat transfer in cooling circuits. A persistent challenge is closing the gap between the theoretical and real-world efficiency of photovoltaic cells, particularly under high temperatures and variable irradiance conditions. Researchers are also exploring how industrial processes can be redesigned around solar heat sources and how building-integrated photovoltaics can serve both structural and energy-generating functions without sacrificing performance.

Works

79,735

Total citations

826,847

Keywords

Solar Thermal CollectorsPhotovoltaic/Thermal Hybrid TechnologyConcentrated Solar Power PlantsSolar Energy Use in IndustriesPhotovoltaic EfficiencyCentral Receiver Designs