Solar thermal, photovoltaic, photovoltaic thermal, and photovoltaic thermal phase change material systems: A comprehensive reference guide

The rapid depletion of traditional energy resources and the resulting environmental degradation mean that renewable energies are emerging as the undisputed future. Among these, solar energy is a clean, abundant, and environmentally friendly source. The technologies used to harness this resource include thermal solar collectors, photovoltaic (PV) solar collectors, and hybrid photovoltaic thermal (PVT) solar collectors. This review paper aims to present a comprehensive survey of existing solar collectors and to classify them into different categories to facilitate a systematic understanding of solar technology. In addition, the paper reviews cooling technologies for PVT systems (PVT-Ss) by analyzing and comparing each technology's electrical and thermal efficiency, intending to determine the best one according to the specific design and climatic conditions. In addition, different possible heat exchanger structures are presented. Finally, the paper proposes recommendations for improving the viability of PVT-Ss.