Advancements in cooling techniques for enhanced efficiency of solar photovoltaic panels: A detailed comprehensive review and innovative classification

Solar photovoltaic (PV) cells have emerged as the primary technology for producing green electricity. This innovation harnesses direct sunlight to generate power and its flexibility of installation has drawn significant investment in PV panels. Despite numerous benefits, these cells are hindered by...

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Main Authors: Mohamad Abou Akrouch, Khaled Chahine, Jalal Faraj, Farouk Hachem, Cathy Castelain, Mahmoud Khaled
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2025-04-01
Series:Energy and Built Environment
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266612332300106X
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author Mohamad Abou Akrouch
Khaled Chahine
Jalal Faraj
Farouk Hachem
Cathy Castelain
Mahmoud Khaled
author_facet Mohamad Abou Akrouch
Khaled Chahine
Jalal Faraj
Farouk Hachem
Cathy Castelain
Mahmoud Khaled
author_sort Mohamad Abou Akrouch
collection DOAJ
description Solar photovoltaic (PV) cells have emerged as the primary technology for producing green electricity. This innovation harnesses direct sunlight to generate power and its flexibility of installation has drawn significant investment in PV panels. Despite numerous benefits, these cells are hindered by a decline in efficiency caused by elevated cell temperature. As such, researchers have undertaken extensive investigations into possible solutions aimed at enhancing the performance of photovoltaic cells using diverse techniques. This review paper provides a thorough analysis of cooling techniques for photovoltaic panels. It encompasses both passive and active cooling methods, including water and air cooling, phase-change materials, and various diverse approaches. Within each category, it delves into detailed sub-categories, such as evaporative cooling, water immersion, floating systems, water pipes, cooling channels, water sprayers, jet impingement, geothermal cooling, and natural convection enhanced by PV designs. It also covers forced convection using cooling ducts, heat sinks, and air collectors, alongside the integration of Phase Change Materials (PCMs), nanofluids, radiative cooling, thermoelectric methods, heat pipes, heat pumps, and other innovative techniques. Each of these approaches is illustrated with specific schematics and thoroughly discussed and compared. Furthermore, this paper introduces an original classification system for these cooling methods applied to photovoltaic panels, offering valuable guidance for future research and insights into improving efficiency.
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spelling doaj-art-3d93fb2384164ca5925b28e1b70c8ecd2025-08-20T02:50:08ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Energy and Built Environment2666-12332025-04-016224827610.1016/j.enbenv.2023.11.002Advancements in cooling techniques for enhanced efficiency of solar photovoltaic panels: A detailed comprehensive review and innovative classificationMohamad Abou Akrouch0Khaled Chahine1Jalal Faraj2Farouk Hachem3Cathy Castelain4Mahmoud Khaled5Energy and Thermo-fluid Group, Lebanese International University, LIU, Bekaa, Lebanon; Laboratory of Thermal and Energy of Nantes LTEN, University of Nantes, Nantes, FranceCollege of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East, KuwaitEnergy and Thermo-fluid Group, Lebanese International University, LIU, Bekaa, Lebanon; Energy and Thermo-fluid Group, The International University of Beirut, BIU, Beirut, LebanonEnergy and Thermo-fluid Group, Lebanese International University, LIU, Bekaa, LebanonLaboratory of Thermal and Energy of Nantes LTEN, University of Nantes, Nantes, FranceEnergy and Thermo-fluid Group, Lebanese International University, LIU, Bekaa, Lebanon; Energy and Thermo-fluid Group, The International University of Beirut, BIU, Beirut, Lebanon; Corresponding author.Solar photovoltaic (PV) cells have emerged as the primary technology for producing green electricity. This innovation harnesses direct sunlight to generate power and its flexibility of installation has drawn significant investment in PV panels. Despite numerous benefits, these cells are hindered by a decline in efficiency caused by elevated cell temperature. As such, researchers have undertaken extensive investigations into possible solutions aimed at enhancing the performance of photovoltaic cells using diverse techniques. This review paper provides a thorough analysis of cooling techniques for photovoltaic panels. It encompasses both passive and active cooling methods, including water and air cooling, phase-change materials, and various diverse approaches. Within each category, it delves into detailed sub-categories, such as evaporative cooling, water immersion, floating systems, water pipes, cooling channels, water sprayers, jet impingement, geothermal cooling, and natural convection enhanced by PV designs. It also covers forced convection using cooling ducts, heat sinks, and air collectors, alongside the integration of Phase Change Materials (PCMs), nanofluids, radiative cooling, thermoelectric methods, heat pipes, heat pumps, and other innovative techniques. Each of these approaches is illustrated with specific schematics and thoroughly discussed and compared. Furthermore, this paper introduces an original classification system for these cooling methods applied to photovoltaic panels, offering valuable guidance for future research and insights into improving efficiency.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266612332300106XComprehensiveComparativeReviewPhotovoltaic panelCooling techniques
spellingShingle Mohamad Abou Akrouch
Khaled Chahine
Jalal Faraj
Farouk Hachem
Cathy Castelain
Mahmoud Khaled
Advancements in cooling techniques for enhanced efficiency of solar photovoltaic panels: A detailed comprehensive review and innovative classification
Energy and Built Environment
Comprehensive
Comparative
Review
Photovoltaic panel
Cooling techniques
title Advancements in cooling techniques for enhanced efficiency of solar photovoltaic panels: A detailed comprehensive review and innovative classification
title_full Advancements in cooling techniques for enhanced efficiency of solar photovoltaic panels: A detailed comprehensive review and innovative classification
title_fullStr Advancements in cooling techniques for enhanced efficiency of solar photovoltaic panels: A detailed comprehensive review and innovative classification
title_full_unstemmed Advancements in cooling techniques for enhanced efficiency of solar photovoltaic panels: A detailed comprehensive review and innovative classification
title_short Advancements in cooling techniques for enhanced efficiency of solar photovoltaic panels: A detailed comprehensive review and innovative classification
title_sort advancements in cooling techniques for enhanced efficiency of solar photovoltaic panels a detailed comprehensive review and innovative classification
topic Comprehensive
Comparative
Review
Photovoltaic panel
Cooling techniques
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266612332300106X
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