Enhancing the thermal and electrical performance of photovoltaic thermal distillation systems with integrated heat exchanger technology for freshwater production in arid regions

• Hybrid PV/thermal still with heat exchanger boosts water/power output. • 25% higher thermal efficiency vs conventional stills; six times more water. • Produces 90 W of electricity and freshwater simultaneously in arid zones. • Peak midday performance, slight PV efficiency drop from overheating. • Sustainable, low-cost fix for energy/water scarcity in droughts. The limited availability of fresh water and energy in arid locations like Iraq presents a major challenge, as conventional solar distillation systems frequently fall short of meeting the demand due to their inadequate efficiency. In this research, a hybrid system combining photovoltaic and thermal (PV/T) solar distillation is explored, enhanced with a heat exchanger to simultaneously boost both freshwater production and electricity generation in the severe arid environment of Kirkuk, Iraq (located at 35°28′ N, 44°19′ E). The results from the experiment show that this new setup totally beats standard solar stills, getting a solid 25% boost in thermal efficiency and cranking out up to 90 watts of electricity. Plus, it produced six times more distilled water with a sweet spot basin depth of 3 cm, with the best water production happening from noon to 2 PM, particularly when the sun was blasting at over 900 W/m². These findings highlight how well the system can handle harsh weather, making it a great sustainable option for remote places dealing with water shortages by merging renewable energy with desalination techniques.