Roadmap for the next-generation hybrid photovoltaic-thermal solar energy collectors

For hybrid photovoltaic-thermal collectors to become competitive with other types of solar energy converters, they must offer high performance at fluid outlet temperatures above 60¿°C, as is required for space heating and domestic hot water provision, which together account for nearly 50% of heat de...

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: Mellor, Alexander, Alonso-Alvarez, Diego, Guarracino, Ilaria, Ramos Cabal, Alba|||0000-0002-3841-3260
Formato: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2018
País:España
Recursos:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repositorio:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/134930
Acesso em linha:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/134930
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2018.09.004
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palavra-chave:Solar collectors
Solar energy
Hybrid photovoltaic-thermal
Pvt
Emissivity
Energia solar
Captadors solars
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Energies
Descrição
Resumo:For hybrid photovoltaic-thermal collectors to become competitive with other types of solar energy converters, they must offer high performance at fluid outlet temperatures above 60¿°C, as is required for space heating and domestic hot water provision, which together account for nearly 50% of heat demand. A roadmap is presented of the technological advances required to achieve this goal. Strategies for reducing convective, radiative and electrical losses at elevated temperature are discussed, and an experimental characterisation of a novel transparent low-emissivity coating for photovoltaic solar cells is presented. An experimentally-validated simulation formalism is used to project the performance of different combinations of loss-reduction strategies implemented together. Finally, a techno-economic analysis is performed to predict the price points at which the hybrid technologies along the roadmap become competitive with non-hybrid photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies. The most advanced hybrid technology along the roadmap employs an evacuated cavity, a transparent low-emissivity coating, and silicon heterojunction photovoltaic cells