Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
In response to the pervasive challenge of limited access to the electric grid for large global populations, standard photovoltaic (PV) cells offer a renewable off-grid electricity source, albeit restricted to daytime solar irradiance. With less than 30% of incoming solar energy converted into electricity, commercial PV cells face efficiency limitations, primarily dissipating the remainder as heat. This study introduces a sustainable, water-passive cooling system designed to alleviate PV cell overheating, presenting a viable strategy for enhancing daytime performance. Integrating a thermoelectric generator (TEG), our developed PV-TEG hybrid system goes beyond conventional solutions by not only mitigating daytime overheating but also unlocking enhanced power generation during nighttime. Achieving a remarkable power density of 0.5 Wm-2, this system promises practical applications, such as lighting, making it a pivotal advancement in renewable energy utilization. This research not only addresses the limitations of current PV technologies but also pioneers new pathways for sustainable energy harvesting technologies in both on-grid and off-grid scenarios.
Alajlan et al. (Sat,) studied this question.