article · Energy Technology
Rising temperatures degrade solar panel performance, driving the need for thermal management solutions across standard photovoltaics, photovoltaic-thermal systems, and concentrated photovoltaics. Recent technological progress has enabled silicon back-contact cells to reach 26 percent efficiency, hybrid interdigitated back-contact cells to attain 27.81 percent, tunnel-oxide passivating contact cells to achieve 27.79 percent, and silicon-perovskite tandem cells to hit 33 percent. Photovoltaic-thermal systems deliver combined electrical and thermal efficiencies of 70 to 85 percent. Meanwhile, concentrated photovoltaic systems reach up to 47.6 percent efficiency using multijunction cells, although effective cooling is required at high concentration ratios. Concentrated photovoltaic-thermal designs generate 20 to 28 percent electrical efficiency while capturing 60 to 70 percent useful thermal energy. Evaluating system designs, cooling techniques, and material compatibility supports the deployment of solar energy in agriculture, industry, and space exploration.
Solar panels lose performance as they heat up during operation, which limits power generation in real-world conditions. Understanding modern cooling methods and hybrid systems that simultaneously harvest electricity and heat enables installations to deliver much higher total energy. This helps improve the productivity and viability of solar power across demanding industrial and agricultural environments.
The findings are relevant to industrial combined heat and power installations, agricultural facilities, and space operations requiring simultaneous power and heat. Concentrated photovoltaic-thermal technology is specifically noted as well-suited for industrial thermal and electrical demands. Because the work reviews established efficiency benchmarks alongside ongoing thermal management strategies, the technologies range from applied and tested commercial cell architectures to advanced configurations requiring further cooling integration before wide industrial adoption.
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The escalating demand for photovoltaic (PV) technologies across agriculture, industry, and even space exploration necessitates innovative solutions to combat performance degradation due to heat. This review delves into the latest advancements in conventional PV, photovoltaic‐thermal (PV/T), and concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) systems, assessing the feasibility of thermal energy management strategies to enhance efficiency. The analysis of system configurations and cooling techniques yields significant insights into the optimization of performance. By 2025, silicon back‐contact cells have achieved 26% efficiency, hybrid interdigitated back‐contact cells reached 27.81%, TOPCon (tunnel‐oxide passivating contact) cells attained 27.79%, and silicon‐perovskite tandem cells hit 33%. PV/T systems showcased overall (electrical and thermal) energy conversion efficiencies of 70%–85%. CPV systems, leveraging advanced multijunction cells, achieve efficiencies of up to 47.6%, though effective thermal management is crucial at high concentration ratios. CPV/T systems are well‐suited for industrial combined heat and power applications, delivering 20%–28% electrical efficiency while capturing 60%–70% useful thermal energy. This comprehensive review also highlights effective design, material compatibility, feasibility, and reliability of various PV technologies. Scientific data generated from continued innovation in thermal management strategies will help meet the rising global demand for clean energy and support researchers, engineers, and policymakers in advancing the future of solar power.
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DOI: 10.1002/ente.70623
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