Progress in Solar Thermal Systems and Their Role in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals

Abdul Ghani Olabi (), Nabila Shehata, Hussein M. Maghrabie, Lobna A. Heikal, Mohammad Ali Abdelkareem (), Shek Mohammod Atiqure Rahman, Sheikh Khaleduzzaman Shah () and Enas Taha Sayed ()
Additional contact information
Abdul Ghani Olabi: Sustainable Energy and Power Systems Research Centre, RISE, University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 27272, United Arab Emirates
Nabila Shehata: Environmental Science and Industrial Development Department, Faculty of Postgraduate Studies for Advanced Sciences, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef 62521, Egypt
Hussein M. Maghrabie: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, South Valley University, Qena 83521, Egypt
Lobna A. Heikal: Renewable Energy Science and Engineering Department, Faculty of Postgraduate Studies for Advanced Sciences, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef 62521, Egypt
Mohammad Ali Abdelkareem: Sustainable Energy and Power Systems Research Centre, RISE, University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 27272, United Arab Emirates
Shek Mohammod Atiqure Rahman: Sustainable Energy and Power Systems Research Centre, RISE, University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 27272, United Arab Emirates
Sheikh Khaleduzzaman Shah: Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Group, Department of Infrastructure Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
Enas Taha Sayed: Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Minia University, Minia 61519, Egypt

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 24, 1-31

Abstract: The use of solar thermal systems (STSs) has recently reached a significant edge. The increasing research on developing an alternative power supply for limiting fossil fuel usage and climate change are the driving forces of STSs. The current work explores the recent progress in STSs’ applications, including PV/T or “photovoltaic/thermal” systems, zero-energy buildings, greenhouse solar thermal applications, solar thermal for pumping water, solar thermal refrigerators, solar chimneys, water desalination, and solar collectors, along with the benefits and challenges of these applications. Then, the potential contribution of STSs in achieving the various SDGs or “Sustainable development goals”, including barriers and research gaps, are elaborated. In brief, STSs significantly contribute to the seventeen SDGs’ achievement directly and indirectly. Recent developments in the engineering applications of STSs are strongly based on the materials of construction, as well as their design, process optimisation, and integration with multidisciplinary sciences and technologies such as modelling, nanoscience/nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence.

Keywords: solar thermal systems; sustainable development goals; renewable energy; climate change (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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