The Pilot Photovoltaic/Thermal Plant at the University of Catania: description and preliminary characterization

The main objective of the present paper is to provide not only the description of a pilot cogenerative PVT Plant (PVTP) but also the results of preliminary electrical and thermal characterization. The PVTP is able to produce and store at the same time electrical and thermal energy, the main component is an uncovered (no air gap above the absorber) hybrid PVT module (PVTM), whose operating temperature has to be carefully chosen in such a way to reach the right compromise between cooling the PV cells (high electrical efficiency) and getting high water temperature (highest Carnot efficiency). The PVTM is the connection point between the two separate subsystems of the PVTP: the electrical subsystem (PVTE) and hydronic subsystem (PVTH). The design of experimental PVTP is very flexible to reproduce parallel and series connections of the PVTMs from both electrical and hydraulic point of view (so, for example, it would be possible to have an electrical series connection and a parallel hydraulic connection). The PVMT is installed in the campus of University of Catania, Catania, Italy (Lat.37.55N, Long.14.29E).