Experimental Energy, Exergy, and Environmental Performance Assessment of a Phase Change Material Integrated Photovoltaic Module Under Outdoor Conditions

Operating temperature and outdoor contaminants strongly influence photovoltaic (PV) performance, particularly in hot, dust‐prone regions, where elevated cell temperature increases irreversible losses and surface soiling reduces optical transmittance. This study experimentally evaluates the energy, exergy, and environmental performance of a phase change material (PCM)‐integrated PV module under real outdoor exposure. Two identical 10 W polycrystalline PV panels were installed on the rooftop of HITEC University, Taxila, Pakistan (33.7°N, 72.8°E) during peak summer operation (08:00–17:00). One panel served as a reference, and the other incorporated an RT44HC PCM on the rear side for passive thermal regulation. Critical parameters such as solar irradiance, ambient conditions, module temperature, electrical output, electrical conversion efficiency, energy performance ratio (EPR), and exergy efficiency were tracked by calibrated sensors and a data acquisition system. These results demonstrate that PCM integration effectively suppresses thermal rise, resulting in a 20–21°C drop in peak module temperature compared to the reference panel. Thus, the PCM‐cooled module exhibited enhanced electrical performance, achieving 18.6%–73.7% rated EPR vs. 15.86%–72.5% for the uncooled panel, and increased electrical conversion efficiency throughout the day. The analysis revealed lower thermodynamic irreversibility and an overall exergy efficiency of 7.44%−13.02% for the PCM configuration. An environmental assessment conducted over a 6‐week natural dust exposure period showed power degradation of up to 6.74%, thereby establishing soiling as a nonnegligible loss mechanism. Overall, this work provides a combined outdoor assessment of thermal regulation and dust‐induced degradation in PCM‐integrated PV modules, supporting their suitability for high‐climate conditions and highlighting the need for complementary soiling‐mitigation strategies.