Solar drying offers a sustainable alternative to conventional drying methods by utilizing renewable energy in a controlled and efficient manner. Integrating phase-change materials (PCMs) into solar dryers enables efficient thermal energy storage, extending drying operations beyond sunlight hours, while improving product quality. This review discusses techno-economic aspects, recent advances related to PCM-based solar dryers in terms of configuration, PCMs being used and strategies adopted to enhance the performance of the same. The review also highlights user satisfaction/acceptance, operational convenience, worldwide adaptation as well as barriers and challenges with respect to the PCM-based solar dryers. A comparative analysis of PCM-based drying applications involving various crops and food products in particular, has also been conducted. Furthermore, some of the commercial solar dryers in the market together with their relevant product information have been presented. The paper concludes with insights into future research directions, including techno-economic feasibility and design optimization.
{"title":"Applications of phase-change materials in solar drying technology: A review","authors":"Deshini Ranasingha , Sushovan Chatterjee , Priyantha Bandara","doi":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100155","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100155","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Solar drying offers a sustainable alternative to conventional drying methods by utilizing renewable energy in a controlled and efficient manner. Integrating phase-change materials (PCMs) into solar dryers enables efficient thermal energy storage, extending drying operations beyond sunlight hours, while improving product quality. This review discusses techno-economic aspects, recent advances related to PCM-based solar dryers in terms of configuration, PCMs being used and strategies adopted to enhance the performance of the same. The review also highlights user satisfaction/acceptance, operational convenience, worldwide adaptation as well as barriers and challenges with respect to the PCM-based solar dryers. A comparative analysis of PCM-based drying applications involving various crops and food products in particular, has also been conducted. Furthermore, some of the commercial solar dryers in the market together with their relevant product information have been presented. The paper concludes with insights into future research directions, including techno-economic feasibility and design optimization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101173,"journal":{"name":"Solar Compass","volume":"17 ","pages":"Article 100155"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145884798","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-16DOI: 10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100154
Mohammad Hasan Ghodusinejad , Nasrin Rashvand , Fatemeh Salmanpour , Shaghayegh Danehkar , Hossein Yousefi
Solar energy is a key renewable resource, yet synchronizing its production with grid demand remains challenging due to irradiance variability. This review systematically examines the evolution of solar irradiance forecasting methods, from physical and numerical weather prediction (NWP) models to modern data-driven and hybrid AI-based approaches. It integrates analyses of All-Sky Imager (ASI) and satellite datasets and categorizes forecasting techniques by temporal horizons from intra-hour to multi-day forecasts. The paper uniquely contributes a comparative taxonomy linking forecast horizon, input data type, and model architecture to accuracy outcomes. The findings highlight the growing benefits of physics-informed deep learning for improving operational solar forecasts.
{"title":"A systematic review of solar irradiance forecasting across time horizons using physical, satellite, and AI-based methods","authors":"Mohammad Hasan Ghodusinejad , Nasrin Rashvand , Fatemeh Salmanpour , Shaghayegh Danehkar , Hossein Yousefi","doi":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100154","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100154","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Solar energy is a key renewable resource, yet synchronizing its production with grid demand remains challenging due to irradiance variability. This review systematically examines the evolution of solar irradiance forecasting methods, from physical and numerical weather prediction (NWP) models to modern data-driven and hybrid AI-based approaches. It integrates analyses of All-Sky Imager (ASI) and satellite datasets and categorizes forecasting techniques by temporal horizons from intra-hour to multi-day forecasts. The paper uniquely contributes a comparative taxonomy linking forecast horizon, input data type, and model architecture to accuracy outcomes. The findings highlight the growing benefits of physics-informed deep learning for improving operational solar forecasts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101173,"journal":{"name":"Solar Compass","volume":"17 ","pages":"Article 100154"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145799894","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-16DOI: 10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100153
Abdul-Hamid Mohammed , Clement A. Komolafe , Anthony Simons
A lack of adequate postharvest equipment has been a significant cause of food shortages in many developing countries. In terms of cost, traditional open sun drying appears economical; however, it faces limitations such as being highly labour intensive, exposing products to direct sunlight, and risking quality loss due to pests and animal invasion. Using solar energy to dry these food products is a promising approach that does not compromise their nutritional value. Despite significant advances in solar energy drying systems, the adoption of solar drying remains limited due to low energy efficiency, inconsistent performance under varying weather conditions, and the absence of scalable design frameworks. This review critically examines developments in solar drying technologies from 2020 to 2025, addressing the increasing need for sustainable postharvest processing solutions. It combines technical, environmental, and socioeconomic perspectives to provide a comprehensive overview of current solar drying systems. The analysis reveals a notable shift from traditional dryers to advanced hybrid configurations that incorporate energy storage materials, nanomaterials, ejector heat pumps, and smart control systems. These innovations have greatly improved thermal efficiency, reduced drying times, and preserved product quality. Application-specific customization, guided by computational tools such as CFD, artificial neural networks (ANN), etc. This review serves as a valuable resource for researchers, engineers, and policymakers aiming to scale up solar drying as a climate-resilient, energy-efficient, and economically sustainable solution. It also highlights emerging research trends, identifies key performance indicators, and underscores the importance of integrating computational modeling with sustainability metrics as future directions.
{"title":"Advances in solar drying technologies: A comprehensive review of designs, applications, and sustainability perspectives","authors":"Abdul-Hamid Mohammed , Clement A. Komolafe , Anthony Simons","doi":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100153","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100153","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A lack of adequate postharvest equipment has been a significant cause of food shortages in many developing countries. In terms of cost, traditional open sun drying appears economical; however, it faces limitations such as being highly labour intensive, exposing products to direct sunlight, and risking quality loss due to pests and animal invasion. Using solar energy to dry these food products is a promising approach that does not compromise their nutritional value. Despite significant advances in solar energy drying systems, the adoption of solar drying remains limited due to low energy efficiency, inconsistent performance under varying weather conditions, and the absence of scalable design frameworks. This review critically examines developments in solar drying technologies from 2020 to 2025, addressing the increasing need for sustainable postharvest processing solutions. It combines technical, environmental, and socioeconomic perspectives to provide a comprehensive overview of current solar drying systems. The analysis reveals a notable shift from traditional dryers to advanced hybrid configurations that incorporate energy storage materials, nanomaterials, ejector heat pumps, and smart control systems. These innovations have greatly improved thermal efficiency, reduced drying times, and preserved product quality. Application-specific customization, guided by computational tools such as CFD, artificial neural networks (ANN), etc. This review serves as a valuable resource for researchers, engineers, and policymakers aiming to scale up solar drying as a climate-resilient, energy-efficient, and economically sustainable solution. It also highlights emerging research trends, identifies key performance indicators, and underscores the importance of integrating computational modeling with sustainability metrics as future directions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101173,"journal":{"name":"Solar Compass","volume":"17 ","pages":"Article 100153"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145799893","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-04DOI: 10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100152
Amina Natheer Abdulla, Omar Rafae Alomar
This study presents a comprehensive review on the advancements in solar air heater (SAH) technologies with a particular focusing on their integration into smart and energy-efficient. The review also critically examines the role of solar air heaters in thermal management, air quality control, and renewable energy utilization within the built environment. The verified experimental and numerical studies are presented to evaluate the influence of absorber plate geometries, flow configurations, and hybrid integrations-such as phase change materials (PCMs), jet impingement, and multi-pass channels-on system performance. The review study reveals that the geometrically optimized and hybrid SAH designs can increase thermal efficiency from traditional 40–50% levels to more than 80% and significantly reducing energy demand for space heating and lowering CO2 emissions in building applications. Moreover, the economic evaluations discussed in the literature indicated that these systems offer short payback periods and contribute to sustainable energy management in residential and institutional facilities. Finally, this work provides a detailed and critical synthesis of existing research, emphasizing the potential of advanced solar air heaters as a core component in smart, low-carbon building technologies aimed at achieving environmental and energy sustainability goals.
{"title":"Performance of solar air heater collector with jet impingement and V-corrugated absorber plate: A comprehensive investigation towards high-efficiency applications in sustainable buildings trends","authors":"Amina Natheer Abdulla, Omar Rafae Alomar","doi":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100152","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100152","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study presents a comprehensive review on the advancements in solar air heater (SAH) technologies with a particular focusing on their integration into smart and energy-efficient. The review also critically examines the role of solar air heaters in thermal management, air quality control, and renewable energy utilization within the built environment. The verified experimental and numerical studies are presented to evaluate the influence of absorber plate geometries, flow configurations, and hybrid integrations-such as phase change materials (PCMs), jet impingement, and multi-pass channels-on system performance. The review study reveals that the geometrically optimized and hybrid SAH designs can increase thermal efficiency from traditional 40–50% levels to more than 80% and significantly reducing energy demand for space heating and lowering CO<sub>2</sub> emissions in building applications. Moreover, the economic evaluations discussed in the literature indicated that these systems offer short payback periods and contribute to sustainable energy management in residential and institutional facilities. Finally, this work provides a detailed and critical synthesis of existing research, emphasizing the potential of advanced solar air heaters as a core component in smart, low-carbon building technologies aimed at achieving environmental and energy sustainability goals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101173,"journal":{"name":"Solar Compass","volume":"17 ","pages":"Article 100152"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145694957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01DOI: 10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100149
Edward Dodzi Amekah , Emmanuel Wendsongre Ramde , David Ato Quansah , Elvis Twumasi , Stefanie Meilinger , Thorsten Schneiders
Although rooftop grid-connected solar PV systems (RGCSPVS) play a crucial role in the global energy transition to mitigate climate change, reactive power imbalance remains a significant power quality challenge, intensifying as the system approaches its optimal penetration limit. This study examines the amount of reactive power an optimally sized GCSPVS can accommodate without exceeding voltage limits. A Python-based dynamic programming approach placed optimally, shunt capacitor (SC) targeting high loads, voltage drops, and losses nodes. The Conditional New Adaptive Foraging Tree Squirrel Search Algorithm (CNAFTSSA) otherwise applied to determine the most effective SC injection locations. In the high-load scenario, 46.20 kVAR of SC injection reduced system losses from 72.36 % to 82.87 %, improving the power factor from 0.51 to 0.69. The high-voltage-drop scenario introduced 10.27 kVAR, reducing losses from 71.57 % to 73.03 % and enhancing the power factor from 0.53 to 0.55. For high-loss nodes, 66.73 kVAR reduced losses from 68.21 % to 82.27 % and improved the power factor from 0.31 to 0.68. The CNAFTSSA scenario injected 65.70 kVAR, reducing losses from 68.34 % to 82.88 % and improving the power factor from 0.31 to 0.67. These results highlight SCs’ role in minimizing losses and enhancing power quality, with the CNAFTSSA approach demonstrating superior performance.
Pub Date : 2025-12-01DOI: 10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100150
Saada Said Al Zakwani, Shanza Neda Hussain, Aritra Ghosh
Floating photovoltaic (FPV)-powered PEM electrolysis can be a promising solution for green hydrogen production, as it eliminates land use concerns typically associated with PV installations. Electrolysis produces hydrogen and oxygen as by-products without emitting harmful gases. However, the process requires a substantial amount of clean water, which can be sourced from seawater using desalination techniques. This study demonstrates the viability of an off-grid green hydrogen production system powered by FPV technology and seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO), designed to support green mobility in Duqm, Oman. A 20 MWp FPV system was installed on the Arabian Sea, approximately 600 km south of Muscat. The integrated system efficiently combines renewable energy, desalination, and electrolysis to produce 1755 kg of hydrogen per day using local solar energy and seawater resources.
The system achieved zero operational CO₂ emissions, contributing to the decarbonisation of the transportation sector through the use of hydrogen-powered vehicles. The Levelised Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH) was calculated at $9.50/kg, the Levelised Cost of Water (LCW) at $1.80/m³, and the Levelised Cost of Electricity (LCOE) at a competitive $0.05/kWh. Hydrogen-powered sedans and high-capacity fuel cell buses were successfully operated using the produced hydrogen, demonstrating the potential for widespread refuelling of a significant number of vehicles.
{"title":"Floating PV powered seawater purification using the RO process and powering electrolyser for green hydrogen production in Oman","authors":"Saada Said Al Zakwani, Shanza Neda Hussain, Aritra Ghosh","doi":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100150","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100150","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Floating photovoltaic (FPV)-powered PEM electrolysis can be a promising solution for green hydrogen production, as it eliminates land use concerns typically associated with PV installations. Electrolysis produces hydrogen and oxygen as by-products without emitting harmful gases. However, the process requires a substantial amount of clean water, which can be sourced from seawater using desalination techniques. This study demonstrates the viability of an off-grid green hydrogen production system powered by FPV technology and seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO), designed to support green mobility in Duqm, Oman. A 20 MWp FPV system was installed on the Arabian Sea, approximately 600 km south of Muscat. The integrated system efficiently combines renewable energy, desalination, and electrolysis to produce 1755 kg of hydrogen per day using local solar energy and seawater resources.</div><div>The system achieved zero operational CO₂ emissions, contributing to the decarbonisation of the transportation sector through the use of hydrogen-powered vehicles. The Levelised Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH) was calculated at $9.50/kg, the Levelised Cost of Water (LCW) at $1.80/m³, and the Levelised Cost of Electricity (LCOE) at a competitive $0.05/kWh. Hydrogen-powered sedans and high-capacity fuel cell buses were successfully operated using the produced hydrogen, demonstrating the potential for widespread refuelling of a significant number of vehicles.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101173,"journal":{"name":"Solar Compass","volume":"17 ","pages":"Article 100150"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145750169","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Agrivoltaics, the concurrent use of land to produce energy and grow crops, represents a form of sustainable land management. The paper critically reviews the integration of solar energy with land used for agriculture, grazing, aquatic environment, and wildlife conservation. These integrations offer a dual advantage, lowering heat stress to ensure their survival and boosting agricultural produce and energy generation. The research specifically reviews to evaluate the benefits of agrivoltaics, such as increased land efficiency, improved crop yields, and enhanced livestock welfare, while addressing associated challenges like ecological impacts and technical constraints. The purpose of the research is to give an overview of integrated systems with agrivoltaics, including their benefits, challenges, and potential applications. This research focuses on developing sustainable, resilient, and multifunctional land-use systems by defining and optimising synergies between solar energy and various agricultural practices.
{"title":"Agrivoltaic systems for sustainability: An overview of emerging trends and practices","authors":"Rittick Maity , N.P. Hariram , M.M. Quazi , Sudhakar Kumarasamy","doi":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100148","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100148","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Agrivoltaics, the concurrent use of land to produce energy and grow crops, represents a form of sustainable land management. The paper critically reviews the integration of solar energy with land used for agriculture, grazing, aquatic environment, and wildlife conservation. These integrations offer a dual advantage, lowering heat stress to ensure their survival and boosting agricultural produce and energy generation. The research specifically reviews to evaluate the benefits of agrivoltaics, such as increased land efficiency, improved crop yields, and enhanced livestock welfare, while addressing associated challenges like ecological impacts and technical constraints. The purpose of the research is to give an overview of integrated systems with agrivoltaics, including their benefits, challenges, and potential applications. This research focuses on developing sustainable, resilient, and multifunctional land-use systems by defining and optimising synergies between solar energy and various agricultural practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101173,"journal":{"name":"Solar Compass","volume":"16 ","pages":"Article 100148"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145623981","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-29DOI: 10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100147
Ehsan Kianfar , Hasan Koten , Wesam R. Kadhum
The increase in global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions over the last century has been related to increased pollution and irreversible damage to important resources. To reduce the global dependence on natural resources and pollution, many scientific efforts have been made to reduce the energy production costs from renewable sources, including efforts to exploit the inherent properties of semiconductors to generate electricity using sunlight. Solar batteries based on the first semiconductor, with efficiencies of >10 %, were produced between 1950 and 1960. Currently, 80–90 % of photovoltaic components worldwide are made from silicon sheets. The use of semiconductors is revolutionizing the optical and electronics industries. Understanding the properties of semiconductors is important for understanding the activity of solar cells and improving their performance and conversion efficiencies. To generate electricity, solar cells must produce electricity and tension. Electricity is produced by motion loads, and tension requires a difference between electronic energy levels. Metal and insulation are free loads, and there is a prohibition between electronic energy levels. However, semiconductors have several advantages over metals. For a highly effective conversion, an effective load must occur, which depends on factors such as the diffusion length of the electrons and holes. The creation and recombination of electrons and their vulnerabilities are of utmost importance in solar cells. This article offers a detailed review of advanced solar sun cell technologies, new materials, loss mechanisms, and efficiency-improvement techniques. Research includes silicon materials (Si) and III-V, punishment lines of lead, durable embryos, organic photovoltaics, and solar cells that are aware of colors. In this context, promising architectural progress with graphene and super materials has been emphasized in the literature. This study also included different types of losses, including interior and external losses, in the single solar cells. Techniques to improve efficiency, such as light management and spectrum use, have been evaluated. Although the effect of solar cells based on Si is delayed by approximately 25 %, the effectiveness of multi-transition solar cells based on III-V semiconductor compounds is improved. However, mixed III–V semiconductors are subject to high material costs. In addition, indium gallium and cadmium telluride solar battery technologies can compete with crystalline solar cells owing to recent progress in cell performance. However, environmental concerns and open tensions regarding the remaining Cd are prevalent. In contrast, perovskite solar cells are highly efficient for both single and multiple arrays. The industrialization of perovskite solar cells requires consideration of device degradation, hysteresis, and film quality.
{"title":"Investigating the properties of semiconductors solar cells technologies, efficiency for photovoltaic cells and application graphene for solar cells : A review","authors":"Ehsan Kianfar , Hasan Koten , Wesam R. Kadhum","doi":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100147","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100147","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increase in global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions over the last century has been related to increased pollution and irreversible damage to important resources. To reduce the global dependence on natural resources and pollution, many scientific efforts have been made to reduce the energy production costs from renewable sources, including efforts to exploit the inherent properties of semiconductors to generate electricity using sunlight. Solar batteries based on the first semiconductor, with efficiencies of >10 %, were produced between 1950 and 1960. Currently, 80–90 % of photovoltaic components worldwide are made from silicon sheets. The use of semiconductors is revolutionizing the optical and electronics industries. Understanding the properties of semiconductors is important for understanding the activity of solar cells and improving their performance and conversion efficiencies. To generate electricity, solar cells must produce electricity and tension. Electricity is produced by motion loads, and tension requires a difference between electronic energy levels. Metal and insulation are free loads, and there is a prohibition between electronic energy levels. However, semiconductors have several advantages over metals. For a highly effective conversion, an effective load must occur, which depends on factors such as the diffusion length of the electrons and holes. The creation and recombination of electrons and their vulnerabilities are of utmost importance in solar cells. This article offers a detailed review of advanced solar sun cell technologies, new materials, loss mechanisms, and efficiency-improvement techniques. Research includes silicon materials (Si) and III-V, punishment lines of lead, durable embryos, organic photovoltaics, and solar cells that are aware of colors. In this context, promising architectural progress with graphene and super materials has been emphasized in the literature. This study also included different types of losses, including interior and external losses, in the single solar cells. Techniques to improve efficiency, such as light management and spectrum use, have been evaluated. Although the effect of solar cells based on Si is delayed by approximately 25 %, the effectiveness of multi-transition solar cells based on III-V semiconductor compounds is improved. However, mixed III–V semiconductors are subject to high material costs. In addition, indium gallium and cadmium telluride solar battery technologies can compete with crystalline solar cells owing to recent progress in cell performance. However, environmental concerns and open tensions regarding the remaining Cd are prevalent. In contrast, perovskite solar cells are highly efficient for both single and multiple arrays. The industrialization of perovskite solar cells requires consideration of device degradation, hysteresis, and film quality.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101173,"journal":{"name":"Solar Compass","volume":"16 ","pages":"Article 100147"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145266606","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-06DOI: 10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100143
Kedar Mehta, Wilfried Zörner
Agri-Photovoltaics (Agri-PV) is well known for its dual land use, integrating solar energy generation with agricultural production. This not only optimizes land use but also enhances food and energy security. Since Agri-PV is closely linked with crop cultivation, it is not solely about energy generation but also requires careful consideration of crop suitability within Agri-PV installations. Despite its significance, there is limited information available to guide decision-making for crop selection in Agri-PV systems. Selecting suitable crops remains a complex challenge, as factors such as shading tolerance, water requirements, and economic viability vary across different geographical and climatic conditions. This study develops a novel, review-based decision support model for crop selection in Agri-PV systems, synthesizing international research and case studies to provide a structured framework for decision-making. The model is based on 12 main crop typologies and key parameters such as water use, shading adaptability, crop yield/economic potential, and space requirements, derived from 117 research articles and case studies from 25 countries. By leveraging insights from successful international implementations, the model provides a practical framework for policymakers, farmers, and energy planners to enhance the sustainability and efficiency of Agri-PV projects. Findings suggest that crop selection strategies must align with regional climate conditions and PV system design to maximize synergies between energy and food production. High-value crops that require less space and have higher shade tolerance are more suitable for small-scale or decentralized Agri-PV systems. Future research should focus on advanced modeling techniques, AI-driven optimization, and real-world pilot studies to further refine decision-making in Agri-PV deployment. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on Agri-PV systems by providing a novel crop suitability matrix for effective decision-making.
{"title":"Crop selection in Agri-PV: international review based strategic decision-making model","authors":"Kedar Mehta, Wilfried Zörner","doi":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100143","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100143","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Agri-Photovoltaics (Agri-PV) is well known for its dual land use, integrating solar energy generation with agricultural production. This not only optimizes land use but also enhances food and energy security. Since Agri-PV is closely linked with crop cultivation, it is not solely about energy generation but also requires careful consideration of crop suitability within Agri-PV installations. Despite its significance, there is limited information available to guide decision-making for crop selection in Agri-PV systems. Selecting suitable crops remains a complex challenge, as factors such as shading tolerance, water requirements, and economic viability vary across different geographical and climatic conditions. This study develops a novel, review-based decision support model for crop selection in Agri-PV systems, synthesizing international research and case studies to provide a structured framework for decision-making. The model is based on 12 main crop typologies and key parameters such as water use, shading adaptability, crop yield/economic potential, and space requirements, derived from 117 research articles and case studies from 25 countries. By leveraging insights from successful international implementations, the model provides a practical framework for policymakers, farmers, and energy planners to enhance the sustainability and efficiency of Agri-PV projects. Findings suggest that crop selection strategies must align with regional climate conditions and PV system design to maximize synergies between energy and food production. High-value crops that require less space and have higher shade tolerance are more suitable for small-scale or decentralized Agri-PV systems. Future research should focus on advanced modeling techniques, AI-driven optimization, and real-world pilot studies to further refine decision-making in Agri-PV deployment. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on Agri-PV systems by providing a novel crop suitability matrix for effective decision-making.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101173,"journal":{"name":"Solar Compass","volume":"16 ","pages":"Article 100143"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145027547","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-05DOI: 10.1016/j.solcom.2025.100144
Kelvin Nkalo Ukoima
This study presents a comparative analysis of the one, two and three – diode mathematical models of photovoltaic (PV) cells. It is shown that for an n-diode (n > 1) PV cell model, the open circuit voltage and maximum power decreases by n % when compared with a one diode model. The non-linear equations that governs the current – voltage and power - voltage characteristics are presented and simulated using an iterative looping method in Matlab. All the mathematical model simulations were performed at manufacturers standard test conditions (25 °C, 1000W/m2) and compared with the manufacturer parameter values from the KC200GT datasheet. Results obtained are presented for two cases: models without shunt resistance and models with shunt resistance. For models without shunt resistance, the one diode has the highest values of the open circuit voltage and maximum power. The two diode model values of maximum power and open circuit voltage differed from values of the single diode model with a 2 % decrease. The three diode model values were reduced by 3 %. Similarly, for models with shunt resistance, the one diode has the highest values of the open circuit voltage and maximum power. The two diode model values of maximum power and open circuit voltage differed from values of the single diode model by 2 % decrease. The three diode model values were decreased by 3 %. The findings indicate that the one-diode model offers the best trade-off between simplicity and accuracy, making it suitable for simulation tasks where computational efficiency is critical. This comparative framework provides valuable insights for selecting appropriate PV models based on application-specific requirements.
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