A Review on Performance Evaluation of Solar Photovoltaic-Thermal (SPT) Technology

The continuous decline in environmental quality and the ever-increasing global energy demand, coupled with the rising cost of traditional energy sources, have prompted scientists to seek more stable, long-term, and sustainable energy alternatives. To address these issues, renewable sources must play a major role. Among these, solar power generation systems fulfil technical, environmental, and cost requirements, making them the best alternative. While a major limitation in electrical systems is the lack of large-scale power storage (only a few MW), the hybrid Solar Photovoltaic-Thermal (SPT) system has become a trending technology. This system uses PV technology to meet the electrical load, while the remaining solar radiation (excess heat) is stored in the form of heat when the available solar radiation is greater than the load demand. This stored energy can be converted into useful thermal or electrical forms, maintaining continuity of supply and maximizing the utilization of solar radiation. Significant innovative developments have been undertaken to enhance the performance of solar thermal systems. This paper provides a comprehensive review of methods for enhancing PVT technology, classifying PVT systems and discussing the various factors that influence and improve SPT system performance.