Energy and Cost Saving of a Photovoltaic-Phase Change Materials (PV-PCM) System through Temperature Regulation and Performance Enhancement of Photovoltaics

Ahmad Hasan, Sarah Josephine McCormack, Ming Jun Huang and Brian Norton
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Ahmad Hasan: College of Engineering, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 15551, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Sarah Josephine McCormack: Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
Ming Jun Huang: Centre for Sustainable Technologies, University of Ulster, Newtownabbey BT370QB, UK
Brian Norton: Dublin Energy Lab., Focas Institute, School of Physics, Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin St., Dublin 8, Ireland

Energies, 2014, vol. 7, issue 3, 1-14

Abstract: The current research seeks to maintain high photovoltaic (PV) efficiency and increased operating PV life by maintaining them at a lower temperature. Solid-liquid phase change materials (PCM) are integrated into PV panels to absorb excess heat by latent heat absorption mechanism and regulate PV temperature. Electrical and thermal energy efficiency analysis of PV-PCM systems is conducted to evaluate their effectiveness in two different climates. Finally costs incurred due to inclusion of PCM into PV system and the resulting benefits are discussed in this paper. The results show that such systems are financially viable in higher temperature and higher solar radiation environment.

Keywords: phase change materials; photovoltaics; energy savings; cost saving; temperature regulation; performance enhancement (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: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (33)

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