The growing adoption of PV modules to support renewable energy goals necessitates improvements in their efficiency, particularly as heat accumulation on the PV surface may cause considerable losses in electrical conversion efficiency. This study aims to address the thermal inefficiency issue by introducing innovative Photovoltaic/Thermal (PV/T) collector system enhanced by Phase Change Material (PCM) with a new convex hull runner backplate. Conducting comprehensive 4E analysis (Energy, Exergy, Economy, Environment), the system’s overall performance is evaluated under weather condition of Xi’an, China. The proposed design demonstrated a 50% reduction in surface temperature comparing to conventional PV panels, yielding a maximum electrical efficiency of 17.5%. Integration of PCM improved thermoelectric stability, achieving a maximum electrical energy output of 5.16 kWh in May. The system reduced annual CO 2 emissions by 30.04 kg, a 13.1% improvement over conventional PV setups. Economic analysis revealed a life cycle energy payback time of 5.17 years, with a 19.3% higher lifecycle conversion efficiency than uncooled PVs. These findings highlight the designed PV/T-PCM system’s superior energy efficiency and its potential for environmental sustainability and cost-effective energy solutions.
Hou et al. (Sun,) studied this question.