Solar Thermal vs Solar PV

Many wonder which solar technology is the most efficient, and that depends on a variety of factors. However, Solimpeks Corp., based in Karatay, Turkey, has released the Volther hybrid solar collector which produces electricity and hot water simultaneously.

The product hybrid modules produced by Solimpeks Corp. allow extra module heat to be absorbed to produce hot water, thus optimizing efficiency, the company says. Previously, the main drawback of many conventional PV systems has been the high initial cost as well as the limited amount of electrical output when compared to the solar input. The Volther hybrid solar collector system allows excess heat to be recaptured and boosts the system’s return on investment, according to Solimpeks Corp.

Scientists have been working on a new method to increase PV efficiency, and according to Solimpeks, the most promising is cooling PV cells with fluid. In the PV-T, which is hybrid PV and thermal collector, production of both electricity and hot water is done simultaneously. The PV module’s heat is absorbed to produce hot water so that PV efficiency can be optimized as the heat is transferred into fluid to produce hot water.

The PV-T hybrid enables for increased electricity production. Hybrid PV/T systems cover areas where electricity and heat energy are produced from the total; half of this field with PV modules and the remaining half of the thermal. The PV/T systems can reduce the temperature of PV cells cause the cells are increasing lifetime and efficiency.

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