The aim of this paper is to compare the electric power output of the photovoltaic Module (PV) and photovoltaic-thermal water collector (PV/T). The electrical efficiency of photovoltaic Modules is greatly reduced by increasing their surface temperature. The hybrid photovoltaicthermal collector consists of a PV Module with a thermal collector attached behind it. The circulating fluid in the collector removes heat from the module and increases its electrical efficiency. In the first part of this paper, a theoretical analysis of a liquid PV/T collector is made based on thermal modeling using the first law of thermodynamics. An unglazed hybrid photovoltaic-thermal collector with serpentine tubes has been designed and manufactured to validate the theoretical results. Then the collector has been tested for three days and results have been compared with a sample photovoltaic module. The theoretical calculations were performed using Matlab software and its results showed good agreement with experimental results. Our finding shows a maximum increase of 6% in the electrical efficiency of PV/T in comparison to the PV module. At the same time, the water temperature has increased by 5° C.

In this research, a multi-objective model is presented considering simulated behavior of high-efficiency rooftop solar PV panels in a factory, which are among the largest producers of greenhouse gases. The paper proposes a simulationoptimization approach that is used to maximize the net present value (NPV) of economic benefits along with minimizing the payback period (PBP) of the investment and maximizing solar energy consumption rate (SECR). In addition, the solar PV panels degradation and maintenance cost, as well as the uncertainty in solar irradiance and demand load, are also considered. The study consists of two scenarios, in the first of which both electricity tariffs and feed-in-tariffs (FiT) are fixed by a long-term contract. The second scenario investigates the situation in which subsidies on electricity tariff are removed. The best types of panels are found in each scenario considering the trade-offs between objective functions. The preferred trade-off solution in the first scenario, with a 2% increase in PBP, achieves more than 10% growth in NPV which is about $15000 in a year. In the second scenario, with only about a 0. 2% decrease in NPV and a 3% increase in PBP, the preferred solution attains a 9% increase in SECR.

The sun is the main source of energy that provides light and heat energy. With the advancements in the power electronic components, grid-tied solar PV Systems are readily available for distributed generation to meet the energy requirements of the customers. The objective of this study and analysis is to predict the potential for solar PV systems and solar thermal energy exploration and the potential for mitigating CO2 emissions and economic benefits. A case study is carried out at Shimoga Milk Union Limited (SHIMUL) Dairy, Machanahalli, Shimoga, Karnataka, India, which handles 75 lakh liters of milk, consumes 2,03,524 units of electricity and 1350 tonnes of steam per month. Analysis has been made on the integration of a 600 kW solar PV system with grid and solar water heaters with the necessary infrastructure for supplying electrical and thermal energy. The study Yields the result that a solar PV System produces 60,000 units per month reduces 29.5% of electrical energy imported from the grid and 50 evacuated tube flat plate collector type solar water heaters of 1000-liter capacity to supply the 50,000 liters of hot water to the boiler at 65˚C reduces input of fuel by 23%, reduces the annual reduction of CO2 emission by 1626 tonnes. Return on Investment for solar PV Systems and solar thermal systems is 4.25 years and 2.7 years, respectively. The analysis extended for each of the various fuels typically used in boilers to produce steam. The procedure developed for estimating the potential for economic and environmental benefits using renewable energy sources for the dairy industry could be extended to any of the industrial sectors that need electrical and thermal energy.

Sustainable Development Goal 13 is an activity committed with the intention of stabilizing greenhouse gas (GHG) levels in the environment to stop potentially harmful human meddling with the climate system. GHG are released into the environment from various non-renewable energy sources of power generation and many industries that cause extensive damage to the environment. Some countries have begun to implement various pollution prevention strategies, such as power generation from renewable energy sources, which emit no greenhouse gases (GHG) or CO2. This study focuses on an analysis of GHG emission reduction along with the financial feasibility of a grid-connected 100MW PV solar system. This study uses RETScreen software to evaluate the GHG emissions reduction analysis as well as a financial analysis of the system. The annual electricity supplied to the local grid of the proposed PV power plant is 137,481MWh. The cost of reducing CO2 emissions has a positive impact on the overall cumulative cash flow of the proposed system.

Renewable energy systems have received special attention in recent decades, mainly due to the environmental problems of using fossil fuels, fluctuation in the price of these fuels, limitations in their resources, and considerable demand for energy. Solar photovoltaic (PV) modules are among the most attractive options for power production using solar energy. A variety of factors, including the material, operating conditions, and temperature, influence PV efficiency. Elevation in the cell temperature causes degradation in efficiency and consequently the production of electricity at a constant solar radiation intensity and operating conditions. In this regard, employment of thermal management systems is considered to avoid temperature increments. Hybrid nanofluids, due to their significant thermophysical properties, are attractive options for thermal management of PV cells. This article reviews and presents studies on the thermal management of PV cells. We conclude that different factors such as the type of nanomaterial, cooling configuration, and operating conditions influence the effectiveness of hybrid nanofluids in thermal management of PV cells. Furthermore, reports suggest that the use of hybrid nanofluids, depending on the nanomaterials, may be more effective than single nanofluids in reducing the temperature of PV modules. Applying hybrid nanofluids instead of pure fluids would result in higher energy and exergy efficiencies. Aside from technical benefits, utilization of hybrid nanofluids in PV cooling could be beneficial in terms of economy. For instance, using hybrid nanofluids for module cooling can reduce the payback period of the systems.

Photovoltaic energy is a good alternative to fossil fuels due to the abundance of solar energy. In this research, the criteria for locating photovoltaic solar power plants were identified using previous studies and experts’ views and by using the Delphi method based on five socioeconomic, topographic, power generation and distribution issues, climatological, and environmental criteria. Then, by using the GIS software, the layers of sub-criteria were classified for locating photovoltaic solar power plants. Upon identifying the proposed decision-maker units for location finding, their efficiency was calculated using the full fuzzy data envelopment analysis method in three steps. The information extracted from the layers of the sub-criteria of GIS was coded using the MATLAB software in the first step of the full fuzzy data envelopment analysis model and the decision-making units were classified into three classes of efficient, weak, and inefficient. In the second step, the values of output shortages and input surplus were determined. Finally, in the third step, efficient decision-making units were ranked using Anderson-Pearson Super Efficiency Method in full fuzzy data envelopment analysis. In order to validate the proposed method, a case study was carried out. The results of calculations showed that the north, central, and southeast areas of Sistan and Baluchestan province were among the favorable areas for photovoltaic solar power plant construction. Therefore, approximately 66 % of the province’s area has appropriate efficiency matching the sub-criteria considered to construct a photovoltaic solar power plant.

The renewable energy industry is growing faster than ever before and in particular solar systems have significantly expanded. Abnormal conditions lead to a reduction in the maximum available power from solar (photovoltaic) systems. Thus, it is necessary to identification, detection, and monitoring of various faults in the PV system that they are the key factors to increase the efficiency, reliability, and lifetime of these systems. Up to now, faults on PV components and systems have been identified; some of them have physical damage on PV systems and some of them are electrical faults that occur on the DC side or AC side of the PV system. Here, the faults will be divided into groups based on their location of occurrence. This paper provides a comprehensive review of almost all PV system faults and fault detection techniques of PV system proposed in recent literature.

Nowadays, harvesting energy from unconventional energy sources is an emerging method. Of those unconventional energy sources, solar energy is a prominent source due to its abundance, sustainability, versatility, cost-effectiveness, and adaptable technological advancements. Solar PhotoVoltaic (PV) cells have the capacity to convert solar radiation into electrical energy. However, there is a roughly 30% decrease in conversion efficiency due to the reflection of photons inherent to this approach. Photon reflection is mainly based on the solar cell surface's optical properties and physical properties. In order to address this issue, a single and double-layer Anti-Reflection (AR) surface was applied using a combination of TiO2 and SiO2 nanoparticles through the technique of spin coating. Hybrid TiO2-SiO2 nanoparticles are derived from their precursors by using the sol-gel process. The XRD (X-Ray Diffraction) method is employed to confirm the chemical phase of TiO2-SiO2 nanomaterials. An analysis has been conducted on how the thickness and roughness of the coating impact the optical characteristics of surfaces treated with Anti-Reflection coatings. Morphological information and Chemical Elements concentration are obtained through FESEM and EDAX analysis. The water contact angle has been measured to ensure the hydrophobicity nature of AR surfaces. Subsequently, the UV-Visible spectrometer is used to examine the efficacy of the Anti-Reflection coating by analyzing its spectral responses, including reflectance, absorbance, and bandgap energy properties. Due to the enhanced optical properties, the power conversion efficiency of the AR-coated sample resulted in 18. 44% from 17. 11%, which is the efficiency of the uncoated sample.