Chapter 3 - Technological and design solutions for enhancement of photovoltaic producibility

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The photovoltaic (PV) sector has grown significantly in recent years, representing a considerable proportion of global renewable energy sources. The main goal for owners, operators, investors, and stakeholders for already built PV systems is to ensure that a PV system generates energy accurately as predicted for a longer life cycle. Low efficiency and unexpected failures, which result in extended downtime periods, are detrimental for the financial outcome of the investment. To assess the risks imposed by low production and component failures, reliability assessment is carried out during the due diligence of any PV system planning. Reliability is vital for PV system planning and long-term operation, as it facilitates risk analysis and reduces energy losses. It further enables the forecasting of system behavior over time and the planning of proactive maintenance strategies accordingly. However, it is commonly limited by a lack of appropriate monitoring systems, operative actions, and robust data analysis systems. On the other hand, for highly efficient and low-cost PV systems, new technologies and design solutions are under full consideration. Regarding PV technology, the availability of bifacial PV modules is surely a cost-effective solution as it increases the unitary surface-installed power density and yearly energy production. From the point of view of design solutions, two possibilities have caught researchers' attention: floating PV systems and hybrid PV thermal plants. Both solutions are somehow related to the control of a crucially important operating variable, which is the PV module's temperature. Active and passive cooling systems must be accurately chosen to increase efficiency, reliability, and durability of PV modules. The goal of this chapter is to provide a description of the mentioned systems for present and future energy-enhanced and cost-effective PV systems.