Phase change materials for enhanced photovoltaic panels performance: A comprehensive review and critical analysis

Due to the high consumption of fossil fuels and the environmental challenges the world is facing, the transition towards renewable energies has become increasingly evident. Thus, enhancing the performance of different renewable energy systems became a fundamental research focus. Improving the annual solar photovoltaic systems efficiencies became a critical need to maintain system performance and durability. The major challenge facing solar photovoltaic system technology to be controlled and reduced is the overheating of the solar cells, where this factor not only affects panels efficiency but it also causes heat-induced structural damages, and long-term exposure which may accelerate material degradation, reduce panel lifespan, and potentially develop hot spots. Among the different solutions is the use of phase change materials. This research demonstrate detailed recent literature review alongside with the appropriate classifications and critical analysis related to four distinct PCM-based cooling systems: pure PCM, composite PCM, finned PCM, and hybrid PCM systems. These PCM systems affect solar system efficiency, electrical power generation, and temperature. Findings revealed that hydrated salt HS36 and paraffin wax RT42 in pure PCM systems can highly enhance system electrical efficiency, as well as enhancements achieved through composite PCM systems incorporating multiwall carbon, graphene nanoplatelets, and magnesium oxide. Moreover, finned PCM integrated with zinc nanoparticles and aluminum fins, demonstrated promising efficiency improvements. On the other hand, hybrid PCM systems, such as PVT-RT35HC integrated with graphene nanoparticle nanofluids, shows significant efficiency gains and electrical power enhancements, knowing that the majority of studies performed during the last three years were introducing hybrid cooling systems integrated with phase change materials. This research article shows the potential of PCM-based cooling solutions in advancing renewable energy technologies and covers a comprehensive review that goes through the recent studies of the last three years about employing phase-change materials as a cooling system for solar cells through different ways that can be classified into four main categories which are pure PCM, composite PCM, finned PCM and hybrid cooling systems.