Cooling techniques for PV panels: A review
Ewa Kozak-Jagieła, Piotr Cisek, Paweł Ocłoń
Abstract
Solar energy is considered one of the most dominant renewable energy sources. It can be used to produce electricity through PV panels. Unfortunatly, this technology is subject to limitations. High operating temperature exceeding 25°C, causes the PV panels to overheat, reducing their lifetime and efficiency. Various approaches to PV cooling are used to overcome these challenges.This paper presents a comprehensive overview of different cooling techniques to increase the performance of PV panels. Passive and active PV cooling systems are analysed using air, water, phase change materials (PCMs) and nanofluids as working agents. A review analysis showed that water cooling is better than air cooling. PCMs, which have recently been gaining in popularity, also deserve attention.