A Hybrid Solar–Thermoelectric System Incorporating Molten Salt for Sustainable Energy Storage Solutions

Green sustainable energy, especially renewable energy, is gaining huge popularity and is considered a vital energy in addressing energy conservation and global climate change. One of the most significant renewable energy sources in the UAE is solar energy, due to the country’s high solar radiation l...

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Main Authors: Mahmoud Z. Mistarihi, Ghazi M. Magableh, Saba M. Abu Dalu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Technologies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7080/13/3/104
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author Mahmoud Z. Mistarihi
Ghazi M. Magableh
Saba M. Abu Dalu
author_facet Mahmoud Z. Mistarihi
Ghazi M. Magableh
Saba M. Abu Dalu
author_sort Mahmoud Z. Mistarihi
collection DOAJ
description Green sustainable energy, especially renewable energy, is gaining huge popularity and is considered a vital energy in addressing energy conservation and global climate change. One of the most significant renewable energy sources in the UAE is solar energy, due to the country’s high solar radiation levels. This paper focuses on advanced technology that integrates parabolic trough mirrors, molten salt storage, and thermoelectric generators (TEGs) to provide a reliable and effective solar system in the UAE. Furthermore, the new system can be manufactured in different sizes suitable for consumption whether in ordinary houses or commercial establishments and businesses. The proposed design theoretically achieves the target electrical energy of 2.067 kWh/day with 90% thermal efficiency, 90.2% optical efficiency, and 8% TEG efficiency that can be elevated to higher values reaching 149% using the liquid-saturated porous medium, ensuring the operation of the system throughout the day. This makes it a suitable solar system in off-grid areas. Moreover, this system is a cost-effective, carbon-free, and day-and-night energy source that can be dispatched on the electric grid like any fossil fuel plant under the proposed method, with less maintenance, thus contributing to the UAE’s renewable energy strategy.
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spelling doaj-art-72d9fb3011f84451a00c3ef1befbbbeb2025-08-20T03:44:05ZengMDPI AGTechnologies2227-70802025-03-0113310410.3390/technologies13030104A Hybrid Solar–Thermoelectric System Incorporating Molten Salt for Sustainable Energy Storage SolutionsMahmoud Z. Mistarihi0Ghazi M. Magableh1Saba M. Abu Dalu2Department Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Liwa College, Abu Dhabi 4109, United Arab EmiratesIndustrial Engineering Department, Yarmouk University, Irbid 21163, JordanIndustrial Engineering Department, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, JordanGreen sustainable energy, especially renewable energy, is gaining huge popularity and is considered a vital energy in addressing energy conservation and global climate change. One of the most significant renewable energy sources in the UAE is solar energy, due to the country’s high solar radiation levels. This paper focuses on advanced technology that integrates parabolic trough mirrors, molten salt storage, and thermoelectric generators (TEGs) to provide a reliable and effective solar system in the UAE. Furthermore, the new system can be manufactured in different sizes suitable for consumption whether in ordinary houses or commercial establishments and businesses. The proposed design theoretically achieves the target electrical energy of 2.067 kWh/day with 90% thermal efficiency, 90.2% optical efficiency, and 8% TEG efficiency that can be elevated to higher values reaching 149% using the liquid-saturated porous medium, ensuring the operation of the system throughout the day. This makes it a suitable solar system in off-grid areas. Moreover, this system is a cost-effective, carbon-free, and day-and-night energy source that can be dispatched on the electric grid like any fossil fuel plant under the proposed method, with less maintenance, thus contributing to the UAE’s renewable energy strategy.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7080/13/3/104local storagesolar energymolten saltsgreen energyoff-gridthermoelectric generator (TEG)
spellingShingle Mahmoud Z. Mistarihi
Ghazi M. Magableh
Saba M. Abu Dalu
A Hybrid Solar–Thermoelectric System Incorporating Molten Salt for Sustainable Energy Storage Solutions
Technologies
local storage
solar energy
molten salts
green energy
off-grid
thermoelectric generator (TEG)
title A Hybrid Solar–Thermoelectric System Incorporating Molten Salt for Sustainable Energy Storage Solutions
title_full A Hybrid Solar–Thermoelectric System Incorporating Molten Salt for Sustainable Energy Storage Solutions
title_fullStr A Hybrid Solar–Thermoelectric System Incorporating Molten Salt for Sustainable Energy Storage Solutions
title_full_unstemmed A Hybrid Solar–Thermoelectric System Incorporating Molten Salt for Sustainable Energy Storage Solutions
title_short A Hybrid Solar–Thermoelectric System Incorporating Molten Salt for Sustainable Energy Storage Solutions
title_sort hybrid solar thermoelectric system incorporating molten salt for sustainable energy storage solutions
topic local storage
solar energy
molten salts
green energy
off-grid
thermoelectric generator (TEG)
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7080/13/3/104
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