Energy analysis of hybrid solar thermal plants ({PV}/T)

A photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) collector is a device formed by a PV module with an attached thermal unit on its back, which allows the simultaneous generation of electric energy and thermal energy with an efficiency higher than conventional thermal collectors and photovoltaic modules operating separately. An overview of the different typologies of a PV/T collector is briefly given and system applications and the use of PV/T collectors in combination with heat pumps are presented. The central section of this chapter is devoted to the methodology used for modeling and characterizing the energy performance, thermal and electrical, of PV/T collectors. Thus, the PV/T pilot installed at the University of Catania is fully described, highlighting all its components as well as the monitoring system used. The performance of such PV/T pilot plants is illustrated by varying the hydraulic configuration, that is, with the PV/T panels connected in series or parallel, as well as maintaining the stagnation of such a system. The experimental results and comparative analysis of the investigated configurations highlight the differences in terms of electrical and thermal energy yields.