Roadmap for the next-generation of hybrid photovoltaic-thermal solar energy collectors
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Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
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.
Date Issued
2018-11-01
Date Acceptance
2018-09-03
Citation
Solar Energy, 2018, 174, pp.386-398
ISSN
0038-092X
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
386
End Page
398
Journal / Book Title
Solar Energy
Volume
174
Copyright Statement
© 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is a open access article under a CC-BY Attribution Licence 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (E
Grant Number
EP/M025012/1
J15119 - PO:500174140
Subjects
09 Engineering
12 Built Environment And Design
Energy
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2018-09-20