Techno-economic evaluation of photovoltaic thermal system integrated with porous phase change materials: Case studies in China

Abstract

This study aims to to develope a comprehensive mathematical model for predicting the performance, environmental impact, and economic viability of solar photovoltaic thermal (PVT) systems, with specific focus on the use of Porous Phase Change Material (PPCM) into a PVT system (PVT-PPCM) and its effect on the cooling cycle temperature throughout the year. The model was experimentally validated and implemented in Matlab to assess the performance of various systems, including PV-only, PVT, and PV integrated with PCM (PV-PCM). To determine the optimum melting point temperature for the PCM-based systems, a sensitivity analysis was conducted for different locations in China. The annual performance, CO2 reduction, discounted payback time (DPBT), and Levelized cost of energy (LCOE) were predicted for each system. Subsidy-free method was used for economic evaluation, which only shows system’s cost savings. In addition, it is worth noting that the maximum power output of each system was evaluated to be 1 MW. The results of the study showed that PVT-PPCM exhibited the highest annual power output of 1920 MWh and CO2 reduction of 30 tons/year, while the LCOE ranged from 0.02 to 0.58 CNY/kWh and the DPBT varied from 5 to 20 years across the case studies. The study also compared the Levelized cost of electricity (LCOEel) of PVT and PVT-PPCM with cases in UK and Spain, with the lowest LCOEel of PVT recorded in Kunming at 0.4 CNY/kWh.The significance of this study lies in its identification of the strengths and weaknesses of PVT system designs across different climates, highlighting areas for improvement. By providing insights into system performance, environmental impact, and economic feasibility, this research contributes to the advancement and optimization of PVT technology for sustainable energy applications.