Pub Date : 2026-03-15Epub Date: 2026-01-12DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2026.114316
Ngoc Khang Dinh , Doan Vu , Dang Le Tri Nguyen
Organic solar cells (OSCs) have emerged as a sustainable energy source, offering unique advantages over traditional counterparts. The morphology control in OSCs plays a vital role in determining device characteristics. Volatile solid additives (VSAs) have been recently introduced as alternatives to traditional solvent additives, play a crucial role in modulating active layer morphology, thereby enhancing photovoltaic performance and morphological stability. The utilization of VSAs can address challenges associated with high-boiling-point solvent additives, such as device stability and reproducibility concerns. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the state-of-the-art utilization and the underlying mechanisms of VSAs employed to optimize OSC morphology and performance to develop comprehensive classification systems for VSAs. This review categorizes VSAs based on their skeleton structure and the removal methods used in thin-film processing. The categorization based on structural skeletons provides important guidelines for molecular design and selection of new VSAs in OSCs. The review also discusses the current limitations encountered in employing VSAs in OSCs and outlines future perspectives for their integration.
{"title":"Classification, design, and selection strategies of volatile solid additives for organic solar cells","authors":"Ngoc Khang Dinh , Doan Vu , Dang Le Tri Nguyen","doi":"10.1016/j.solener.2026.114316","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solener.2026.114316","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Organic solar cells (OSCs) have emerged as a sustainable energy source, offering unique advantages over traditional counterparts. The morphology control in OSCs plays a vital role in determining device characteristics. Volatile solid additives (VSAs) have been recently introduced as alternatives to traditional solvent additives, play a crucial role in modulating active layer morphology, thereby enhancing photovoltaic performance and morphological stability. The utilization of VSAs can address challenges associated with high-boiling-point solvent additives, such as device stability and reproducibility concerns. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the state-of-the-art utilization and the underlying mechanisms of VSAs employed to optimize OSC morphology and performance to develop comprehensive classification systems for VSAs. This review categorizes VSAs based on their skeleton structure and the removal methods used in thin-film processing. The categorization based on structural skeletons provides important guidelines for molecular design and selection of new VSAs in OSCs. The review also discusses the current limitations encountered in employing VSAs in OSCs and outlines future perspectives for their integration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":428,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy","volume":"307 ","pages":"Article 114316"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145950152","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-15Epub Date: 2026-01-16DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2026.114333
Kelun Zhao , Jiaming Zhou , Qiang Kang , Yanqing Zhang , Yang Liu , Xinyi Li , Chaoming Liu , Tianqi Wang , Zhongyu Li , Mingxue Huo
This study focused on the damage disparity and coupling effects of 2 MeV protons and 1 MeV electrons in irradiated GaInP/GaAs HJT solar cells. It was found that the Voc, Jsc and EQE curve exhibited similar degradation levels at proton and electron fluences of 5 × 1011 cm−2 and 8 × 1014 cm−2, respectively. An equivalency factor of Rep = 1.55 was determined for the GaInP/GaAs HJT cell, resulting from the far greater displacement damage effectiveness of 2 MeV protons compared to 1 MeV electrons. DIV analysis showed that both Jdiff and Jrec increased linearly with fluence, with Jrec being the dominant component. Defect analysis revealed that 2 MeV protons uniquely introduced the H2 (Ev + 0.32 eV) defect. Despite these differences in specific defects, their overall impact on the SRH recombination lifetime was similar when compared at an equivalent displacement damage dose. Sequential irradiation experiments confirmed that the coupled damage did not introduce new defects but resulted in a linear superposition of the defects induced by individual irradiations, indicating no significant synergistic effect.
{"title":"Radiation degradation mechanisms of GaInP/GaAs heterojunction solar cells following proton, electron and sequential irradiation","authors":"Kelun Zhao , Jiaming Zhou , Qiang Kang , Yanqing Zhang , Yang Liu , Xinyi Li , Chaoming Liu , Tianqi Wang , Zhongyu Li , Mingxue Huo","doi":"10.1016/j.solener.2026.114333","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solener.2026.114333","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study focused on the damage disparity and coupling effects of 2 MeV protons and 1 MeV electrons in irradiated GaInP/GaAs HJT solar cells. It was found that the <em>V<sub>oc</sub></em>, <em>J<sub>sc</sub></em> and EQE curve exhibited similar degradation levels at proton and electron fluences of 5 × 10<sup>11</sup> cm<sup>−2</sup> and 8 × 10<sup>14</sup> cm<sup>−2</sup>, respectively. An equivalency factor of <em>R<sub>ep</sub></em> = 1.55 was determined for the GaInP/GaAs HJT cell, resulting from the far greater displacement damage effectiveness of 2 MeV protons compared to 1 MeV electrons. DIV analysis showed that both <em>J<sub>diff</sub></em> and <em>J<sub>rec</sub></em> increased linearly with fluence, with <em>J<sub>rec</sub></em> being the dominant component. Defect analysis revealed that 2 MeV protons uniquely introduced the H<sub>2</sub> (<em>E<sub>v</sub></em> + 0.32 eV) defect. Despite these differences in specific defects, their overall impact on the SRH recombination lifetime was similar when compared at an equivalent displacement damage dose. Sequential irradiation experiments confirmed that the coupled damage did not introduce new defects but resulted in a linear superposition of the defects induced by individual irradiations, indicating no significant synergistic effect.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":428,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy","volume":"307 ","pages":"Article 114333"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145976366","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-15Epub Date: 2026-01-28DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2026.114340
Celestino Rodrigues Ruivo , Semaan Azize , Xabier Apaolaza-Pagoaga , Antonio Carrillo-Andrés
The Pucca solar cooker is a domestic funnel-type cooker, constructed of concrete and silvered glass mirrors. Its robust construction allows it to be kept outside permanently, in all weather conditions. However, its reflectors may gradually degrade over time, leading to diminished performance. To assess this issue, six Pucca cookers were tested side by side using a water load of 2 kg in each cooker. Two of the cookers had new mirrors, two had minimally degraded mirrors, and two had badly degraded mirrors. Non-linear efficiency curves were determined by a suitable enhanced evaluation method. Small differences were noted between the efficiency curves of the four cookers with the least degraded reflectors. By contrast, the points of maximum efficiency for the two cookers with badly degraded reflectors amounted to only about 70% of the value seen in the other cookers. The impact of this degradation on performance is illustrated by the figures predicted using the enhanced procedure, where the measured temperature data were fitted to a second-order polynomial with a time-dependent exponential term to derive nonlinear efficiency curves. The best performing cooker is expected to boil 2 kg of water in about three hours when the ambient temperature is 20 °C and the solar irradiance is 700 Wm−2, and in only 1.4 h when the ambient temperature is 30 °C and solar irradiance is 1000 Wm−2. The two cookers with badly degraded mirrors could not boil 2 kg of water at all under either of those conditions. The enhanced method is reliable.
{"title":"Thermal performance experimental study of a robust funnel solar cooker using an enhanced evaluation method","authors":"Celestino Rodrigues Ruivo , Semaan Azize , Xabier Apaolaza-Pagoaga , Antonio Carrillo-Andrés","doi":"10.1016/j.solener.2026.114340","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solener.2026.114340","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Pucca solar cooker is a domestic funnel-type cooker, constructed of concrete and silvered glass mirrors. Its robust construction allows it to be kept outside permanently, in all weather conditions. However, its reflectors may gradually degrade over time, leading to diminished performance. To assess this issue, six Pucca cookers were tested side by side using a water load of 2 kg in each cooker. Two of the cookers had new mirrors, two had minimally degraded mirrors, and two had badly degraded mirrors. Non-linear efficiency curves were determined by a suitable enhanced evaluation method. Small differences were noted between the efficiency curves of the four cookers with the least degraded reflectors. By contrast, the points of maximum efficiency for the two cookers with badly degraded reflectors amounted to only about 70% of the value seen in the other cookers. The impact of this degradation on performance is illustrated by the figures predicted using the enhanced procedure, where the measured temperature data were fitted to a second-order polynomial with a time-dependent exponential term to derive nonlinear efficiency curves. The best performing cooker is expected to boil 2 kg of water in about three hours when the ambient temperature is 20 °C and the solar irradiance is 700 Wm<sup>−2</sup>, and in only 1.4 h when the ambient temperature is 30 °C and solar irradiance is 1000 Wm<sup>−2</sup>. The two cookers with badly degraded mirrors could not boil 2 kg of water at all under either of those conditions. The enhanced method is reliable.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":428,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy","volume":"307 ","pages":"Article 114340"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146074351","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-15Epub Date: 2026-01-31DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2026.114360
Rashad Ibrahim , Muhammad Asif , Abdinasir Ahmed Abdirahman , Muhammad Imran Khan
The global shift towards renewable energy has positioned solar photovoltaic (PV) systems as pivotal to achieving sustainable climate goals. However, the efficiency and performance of PV systems are significantly compromised by environmental factors, particularly dust accumulation, which can reduce energy output by up to 80% in arid and semi-arid regions. Despite the various PV cleaning technologies available, from manual methods to AI-driven robotic technologies that have emerged, their uneven maturity and scalability remain poorly quantified, delaying strategic deployment. This study presents the first systematic Technology Readiness Level (TRL) assessment of 12 PV cleaning methods, integrating technical performance, environmental impact, economic feasibility, and scalability. The findings reveal that while manual cleaning methods are widely deployed (TRL 9), they are labour-intensive and resource-dependent, making them unsuitable for large-scale applications in water-scarce regions. Emerging technologies, such as robotic cleaning (TRL 6–8), super-hydrophobic coatings (TRL 5–7), and electrodynamic screens (TRL 4–6), show high potential but require robust R&D to address durability, energy demands, and cost barriers. The study identifies key barriers to TRL advancement, including high initial costs, energy demands, durability issues, and environmental concerns, particularly for water-based systems. Conversely, enablers such as AI-driven predictive maintenance, hybrid approaches, and policy incentives offer pathways to accelerate the commercialization of sustainable cleaning solutions. By overcoming the challenges and making the most of the key drivers identified, this study aims to contribute to the global shift toward renewable energy, while helping to ensure that solar PV systems remain dependable and sustainable across a variety of environmental conditions.
{"title":"Technology readiness level assessment of solar PV cleaning technologies","authors":"Rashad Ibrahim , Muhammad Asif , Abdinasir Ahmed Abdirahman , Muhammad Imran Khan","doi":"10.1016/j.solener.2026.114360","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solener.2026.114360","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The global shift towards renewable energy has positioned solar photovoltaic (PV) systems as pivotal to achieving sustainable climate goals. However, the efficiency and performance of PV systems are significantly compromised by environmental factors, particularly dust accumulation, which can reduce energy output by up to 80% in arid and semi-arid regions. Despite the various PV cleaning technologies available, from manual methods to AI-driven robotic technologies that have emerged, their uneven maturity and scalability remain poorly quantified, delaying strategic deployment. This study presents the first systematic Technology Readiness Level (TRL) assessment of 12 PV cleaning methods, integrating technical performance, environmental impact, economic feasibility, and scalability. The findings reveal that while manual cleaning methods are widely deployed (TRL 9), they are labour-intensive and resource-dependent, making them unsuitable for large-scale applications in water-scarce regions. Emerging technologies, such as robotic cleaning (TRL 6–8), super-hydrophobic coatings (TRL 5–7), and electrodynamic screens (TRL 4–6), show high potential but require robust R&D to address durability, energy demands, and cost barriers. The study identifies key barriers to TRL advancement, including high initial costs, energy demands, durability issues, and environmental concerns, particularly for water-based systems. Conversely, enablers such as AI-driven predictive maintenance, hybrid approaches, and policy incentives offer pathways to accelerate the commercialization of sustainable cleaning solutions. By overcoming the challenges and making the most of the key drivers identified, this study aims to contribute to the global shift toward renewable energy, while helping to ensure that solar PV systems remain dependable and sustainable across a variety of environmental conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":428,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy","volume":"307 ","pages":"Article 114360"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146170280","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-15Epub Date: 2026-01-13DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2026.114323
Oluwatoyosi F. Bamisile , She Kun , Chiagoziem C. Ukwuoma , Dara Thomas , Chukwuebuka J. Ejiyi , Omosalewa Olagundoye , Olatomide Olugbenle , Olamide Olotu , Olusola Bamisile
Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are increasingly deployed worldwide, intensifying the need for efficient and accurate defect detection methods that ensure long-term performance. Infrared thermography is widely used for PV inspection, yet existing deep learning methods face difficulties detecting small-scale anomalies, handling class imbalance, and maintaining stable performance under real-world thermal variability. This study introduces an Attention Residual Network with Multi-Scale Convolution Branch to capture fine- and coarse-scale features while enhancing robustness and gradient stability. The model was tested on varying solar PV datasets, including the Infrared Solar Modules dataset under binary and multi-class settings and the PV panel defect dataset. The proposed model achieved 0.968 accuracy and 0.981 ROC-AUC (binary) and 0.971 accuracy and 0.993 ROC-AUC (multi-class) for the Infrared Solar Modules dataset, while recording an accuracy of 0.975 and 0.949 kappa (binary), 0.973 accuracy and 0.955 kappa (3 classes) and 0.915 and 0.8950 kappa (6 classes) on the PV panel defect dataset. Ablation studies on the Infrared Solar Modules dataset demonstrated the individual contributions of multi-scale extraction, attention refinement, and residual learning, while Grad-CAM visualisations confirmed the interpretability of defect localisation. The results show that the proposed model offers an accurate, stable, and interpretable approach for infrared-based PV defect classification, supporting scalable deployment in automated inspection systems.
{"title":"Attention residual network with multi-scale convolution branch for efficient solar photovoltaic module defect classification","authors":"Oluwatoyosi F. Bamisile , She Kun , Chiagoziem C. Ukwuoma , Dara Thomas , Chukwuebuka J. Ejiyi , Omosalewa Olagundoye , Olatomide Olugbenle , Olamide Olotu , Olusola Bamisile","doi":"10.1016/j.solener.2026.114323","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solener.2026.114323","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are increasingly deployed worldwide, intensifying the need for efficient and accurate defect detection methods that ensure long-term performance. Infrared thermography is widely used for PV inspection, yet existing deep learning methods face difficulties detecting small-scale anomalies, handling class imbalance, and maintaining stable performance under real-world thermal variability. This study introduces an Attention Residual Network with Multi-Scale Convolution Branch to capture fine- and coarse-scale features while enhancing robustness and gradient stability. The model was tested on varying solar PV datasets, including the Infrared Solar Modules dataset under binary and multi-class settings and the PV panel defect dataset. The proposed model achieved 0.968 accuracy and 0.981 ROC-AUC (binary) and 0.971 accuracy and 0.993 ROC-AUC (multi-class) for the Infrared Solar Modules dataset, while recording an accuracy of 0.975 and 0.949 kappa (binary), 0.973 accuracy and 0.955 kappa (3 classes) and 0.915 and 0.8950 kappa (6 classes) on the PV panel defect dataset. Ablation studies on the Infrared Solar Modules dataset demonstrated the individual contributions of multi-scale extraction, attention refinement, and residual learning, while Grad-CAM visualisations confirmed the interpretability of defect localisation. The results show that the proposed model offers an accurate, stable, and interpretable approach for infrared-based PV defect classification, supporting scalable deployment in automated inspection systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":428,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy","volume":"307 ","pages":"Article 114323"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145950150","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-15Epub Date: 2026-01-13DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2026.114314
Zunbo Wang , Yong He , Jianghu Bai , Wanzhen Wang , Xiangzhou Cui , Zhongtao Liao , Wubin Weng , Zhihua Wang
This study proposes a novel dual-layer optimization framework that integrates time-of-use electricity pricing with solar irradiance forecasting to dynamically schedule hydrogen production via photovoltaic-assisted alkaline electrolysis (PV-ALE). When validated with industrial-scale data, the framework achieves a levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) of 4.46 $/kg at an annual output of 2,676 tons. Experimental results demonstrate a 72.6 % faster system response through hot-start operation and a 12 % reduction in startup energy consumption achieved via gradient loading. Sensitivity analysis identifies the discount rate and PV capacity factor as dominant cost drivers, indicating that a 20 % electricity price can lower the LCOH by 16.4 %. Technology learning curves suggest that costs could be reduced by up to 70 %, potentially reaching 2.5 $/kg by 2035. This work provides an empirically-grounded, coordinated “source-grid-load” model that offers a replicable pathway to overcome renewable intermittency and improve the commercial viability of green hydrogen.
{"title":"Techno-economic analysis of PV-assisted alkaline water electrolysis hydrogen production system based on dynamic matching of electricity prices and solar irradiance","authors":"Zunbo Wang , Yong He , Jianghu Bai , Wanzhen Wang , Xiangzhou Cui , Zhongtao Liao , Wubin Weng , Zhihua Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.solener.2026.114314","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solener.2026.114314","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study proposes a novel dual-layer optimization framework that integrates time-of-use electricity pricing with solar irradiance forecasting to dynamically schedule hydrogen production via photovoltaic-assisted alkaline electrolysis (PV-ALE). When validated with industrial-scale data, the framework achieves a levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) of 4.46 $/kg at an annual output of 2,676 tons. Experimental results demonstrate a 72.6<!--> <!-->% faster system response through hot-start operation and a 12<!--> <!-->% reduction in startup energy consumption achieved via gradient loading. Sensitivity analysis identifies the discount rate and PV capacity factor as dominant cost drivers, indicating that a 20<!--> <!-->% electricity price can lower the LCOH by 16.4<!--> <!-->%. Technology learning curves suggest that costs could be reduced by up to 70<!--> <!-->%, potentially reaching 2.5 $/kg by 2035. This work provides an empirically-grounded, coordinated “source-grid-load” model that offers a replicable pathway to overcome renewable intermittency and improve the commercial viability of green hydrogen.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":428,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy","volume":"307 ","pages":"Article 114314"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145950153","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-15Epub Date: 2026-01-20DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2026.114334
Mostafa Abuseada, Timothy S. Fisher
In this work, a unique direct solar methane pyrolysis process is optimized to improve yield and efficiency in producing solid graphite that conformally coats fibers in a porous carbon-felt substrate. A custom Monte Carlo Ray Tracing (MCRT) code is developed and experimentally validated to optimize the optical design of the methane decomposition process driven by a high-flux solar simulator. The optical optimization is achieved using a conical secondary concentrator that further increases solar concentration ratios in the reaction zone, allowing more intense radiative heat transfer to the porous carbon-felt substrate. Dimensions of the secondary concentrator are optimized based on MCRT numerical simulations to capture the highest irradiation in the reaction zone. The enhancement in solar power concentration resulting from the secondary concentrator is evaluated, and its improvements to the solar-thermal methane decomposition process are demonstrated over a range of processing parameters, with typical enhancements in chemical process conversions and yields that are a factor of 1.5 higher in comparison to results without the secondary concentrator under the same conditions.
{"title":"Optical optimization of solar methane pyrolysis with secondary concentration","authors":"Mostafa Abuseada, Timothy S. Fisher","doi":"10.1016/j.solener.2026.114334","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solener.2026.114334","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this work, a unique direct solar methane pyrolysis process is optimized to improve yield and efficiency in producing solid graphite that conformally coats fibers in a porous carbon-felt substrate. A custom Monte Carlo Ray Tracing (MCRT) code is developed and experimentally validated to optimize the optical design of the methane decomposition process driven by a high-flux solar simulator. The optical optimization is achieved using a conical secondary concentrator that further increases solar concentration ratios in the reaction zone, allowing more intense radiative heat transfer to the porous carbon-felt substrate. Dimensions of the secondary concentrator are optimized based on MCRT numerical simulations to capture the highest irradiation in the reaction zone. The enhancement in solar power concentration resulting from the secondary concentrator is evaluated, and its improvements to the solar-thermal methane decomposition process are demonstrated over a range of processing parameters, with typical enhancements in chemical process conversions and yields that are a factor of 1.5 higher in comparison to results without the secondary concentrator under the same conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":428,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy","volume":"307 ","pages":"Article 114334"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146024369","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-15Epub Date: 2026-01-23DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2026.114363
Lengge Si, Hongjuan Hou, Qi Liu, Hui Zhang
Dynamic coupling between concentrating photovoltaic/thermal (CPV/T) collectors and proton-exchange-membrane (PEM) electrolyzers governs solar-driven hydrogen production under intermittent irradiance, yet is rarely captured by existing steady-state or component-isolated models. This work develops a modular dynamic model for a CPV/T-PEM water electrolysis system by integrating Monte Carlo ray tracing optics, a multilayer transient thermal resistance–capacitance submodel for the CPV/T receiver, and an electrochemical–thermal PEM submodel. The CPV/T and PEM submodels are validated against experimental measurements with relative errors below 3% for key outputs. Global sensitivity analysis indicates that hydrogen production is most sensitive to DNI (0.72–0.84), whereas thermal output is mainly regulated by the flow rate (−0.86 to −0.54). Seasonal simulations for Beijing predict daily hydrogen production of 50.2 g in winter and 90.5 g in summer for a single PEM electrolyzer cell under the studied configuration. Step-disturbance simulations further quantify transient behavior: DNI steps yield H2-flow settling times of 40–52 min, and flow-rate steps produce thermal-output settling times of 57 min. The proposed framework provides a control-oriented tool for analyzing and optimizing CPV/T-PEM hydrogen systems under realistic solar variability.
{"title":"Dynamic modeling simulation study of concentrating photovoltaic thermal (CPV/T) coupled proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis system","authors":"Lengge Si, Hongjuan Hou, Qi Liu, Hui Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.solener.2026.114363","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solener.2026.114363","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dynamic coupling between concentrating photovoltaic/thermal (CPV/T) collectors and proton-exchange-membrane (PEM) electrolyzers governs solar-driven hydrogen production under intermittent irradiance, yet is rarely captured by existing steady-state or component-isolated models. This work develops a modular dynamic model for a CPV/T-PEM water electrolysis system by integrating Monte Carlo ray tracing optics, a multilayer transient thermal resistance–capacitance submodel for the CPV/T receiver, and an electrochemical–thermal PEM submodel. The CPV/T and PEM submodels are validated against experimental measurements with relative errors below 3% for key outputs. Global sensitivity analysis indicates that hydrogen production is most sensitive to DNI (0.72–0.84), whereas thermal output is mainly regulated by the flow rate (−0.86 to −0.54). Seasonal simulations for Beijing predict daily hydrogen production of 50.2 g in winter and 90.5 g in summer for a single PEM electrolyzer cell under the studied configuration. Step-disturbance simulations further quantify transient behavior: DNI steps yield H<sub>2</sub>-flow settling times of 40–52 min, and flow-rate steps produce thermal-output settling times of 57 min. The proposed framework provides a control-oriented tool for analyzing and optimizing CPV/T-PEM hydrogen systems under realistic solar variability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":428,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy","volume":"307 ","pages":"Article 114363"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146024390","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-15Epub Date: 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2026.114388
Zao Jiang , Xiaoning Li , Jian Sun , Ziman Hao , Qiu Yu , Chenglun Liu , Longjun Xu , Yi Zheng
The mesoporous NH2-MIL-125(Ti)/Zn0.5Cd0.5S (TMZCS) composite photocatalyst is effectively fabricated through a two-step hydrothermal synthesis approach. The photocatalytic hydrogen generation efficiency of the TMZCS is systematically investigated in pure water. The results indicate that when the mass fraction of NH2-MIL-125(Ti) is 15%, the maximum hydrogen production after 3 h of illumination in pure water reaches 1528 μmol, corresponding to a hydrogen yield rate of 509.6 μmol h−1, nearly double that of pure ZCS. Furthermore, the TMZCS also demonstrates excellent photocatalytic stability. Even after four consecutive recycles, the photocatalytic hydrogen yield remains virtually unchanged. The improved photocatalytic efficiency of TMZCS arises predominantly from the establishment of a type II heterojunction at the interface between ZCS and NH2-MIL-125(Ti). This structure effectively enhances the dissociation of photogenerated carriers and suppresses their recombination. This research presents a high-performance and robust photocatalyst for hydrogen yield from water.
{"title":"Mesoporous NH2-MIL-125(Ti)/Zn0.5Cd0.5S photocatalysts with improved photocatalytic hydrogen evolution under solar light","authors":"Zao Jiang , Xiaoning Li , Jian Sun , Ziman Hao , Qiu Yu , Chenglun Liu , Longjun Xu , Yi Zheng","doi":"10.1016/j.solener.2026.114388","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solener.2026.114388","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The mesoporous NH<sub>2</sub>-MIL-125(Ti)/Zn<sub>0.5</sub>Cd<sub>0.5</sub>S (TMZCS) composite photocatalyst is effectively fabricated through a two-step hydrothermal synthesis approach. The photocatalytic hydrogen generation efficiency of the TMZCS is systematically investigated in pure water. The results indicate that when the mass fraction of NH<sub>2</sub>-MIL-125(Ti) is 15%, the maximum hydrogen production after 3 h of illumination in pure water reaches 1528 μmol, corresponding to a hydrogen yield rate of 509.6 μmol h<sup>−1</sup>, nearly double that of pure ZCS. Furthermore, the TMZCS also demonstrates excellent photocatalytic stability. Even after four consecutive recycles, the photocatalytic hydrogen yield remains virtually unchanged. The improved photocatalytic efficiency of TMZCS arises predominantly from the establishment of a type II heterojunction at the interface between ZCS and NH<sub>2</sub>-MIL-125(Ti). This structure effectively enhances the dissociation of photogenerated carriers and suppresses their recombination. This research presents a high-performance and robust photocatalyst for hydrogen yield from water.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":428,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy","volume":"307 ","pages":"Article 114388"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146074350","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In this work, Brillouin optical time domain reflectometer (BOTDR) is introduced to monitor the temperature of photovoltaic (PV) panels, and it is validated through experiments. First, with the help of thermostatic water bath, the Brillouin temperature coefficient of the sensing optical fiber is determined, the accuracy of BOTDR and thermocouple is checked. Then, the attenuation characteristics of the Brillouin gain spectrum for different optical fiber layout schemes are measured. The results reveal that a bending radius smaller than 1.5 cm hinders high-accuracy temperature measurement. By comparing the temperature measured by BOTDR and thermocouples, a suitable optical fiber layout scheme is determined. Further, the temperature on the PV panels is measured by BOTDR and three-point thermocouple method. When the ambient temperature ranges from 23.6°C to 31.2°C, wind speed ranges from 0.28 m/s to 2.22 m/s, and solar irradiance ranges from 176 W/m2 to 747 W/m2, the results show that the MAE ranges from 0.59°C to 0.69°C and the MSE ranges from 0.46°C2 to 0.64°C2, with small variations among different experimental days. In addition, the BOTDR system is utilized to conduct temperature monitoring studies on PV panels with different tilt angles and cleaning conditions. The experimental results reveal that the proposed method can effectively monitor the temperature on the rear surface of the PV panels under complex conditions.
{"title":"Research on the rear surface temperature monitoring method of photovoltaic panels based on BOTDR","authors":"Ziming Hua , Lijuan Zhao , Zhiyuan Xie , Chenglin Zeng , Zhiniu Xu , Yuedong Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.solener.2026.114383","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.solener.2026.114383","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this work, Brillouin optical time domain reflectometer (BOTDR) is introduced to monitor the temperature of photovoltaic (PV) panels, and it is validated through experiments. First, with the help of thermostatic water bath, the Brillouin temperature coefficient of the sensing optical fiber is determined, the accuracy of BOTDR and thermocouple is checked. Then, the attenuation characteristics of the Brillouin gain spectrum for different optical fiber layout schemes are measured. The results reveal that a bending radius smaller than 1.5 cm hinders high-accuracy temperature measurement. By comparing the temperature measured by BOTDR and thermocouples, a suitable optical fiber layout scheme is determined. Further, the temperature on the PV panels is measured by BOTDR and three-point thermocouple method. When the ambient temperature ranges from 23.6°C to 31.2°C, wind speed ranges from 0.28 m/s to 2.22 m/s, and solar irradiance ranges from 176 W/m<sup>2</sup> to 747 W/m<sup>2</sup>, the results show that the MAE ranges from 0.59°C to 0.69°C and the MSE ranges from 0.46°C<sup>2</sup> to 0.64°C<sup>2</sup>, with small variations among different experimental days. In addition, the BOTDR system is utilized to conduct temperature monitoring studies on PV panels with different tilt angles and cleaning conditions. The experimental results reveal that the proposed method can effectively monitor the temperature on the rear surface of the PV panels under complex conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":428,"journal":{"name":"Solar Energy","volume":"307 ","pages":"Article 114383"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146074353","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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