Thermo-ecological analysis - The comparison of collector and PV to PV/T system

Abstract

The use of solar radiation energy is one of the important elements to achieve energy transformation. This potential can be utilized by generating electricity with PV modules or heat from collectors. It is also possible to combine these elements into one system and more efficient use of solar radiation, as is the case with the Photovoltaic thermal collectors (PV/T system), which is considered in the article below. The amounts of produced electricity and heat are compared and the energy efficiency of electricity production by PV or PV/T. Local energy analysis from the point of view of resource efficiency, however, becomes insufficient, because it ignores the issue of the quality of individual energy carriers, therefore also in the rest of the article presents an exergo-ecological analysis using the TEC concept (thermo-ecological cost). It has been demonstrated that the TEC for generated carrier (electricity/heat) produced from solar radiation is lower for combined systems and depends on a few factors: the type of generated carrier and implementation of division of allocation of fuel between heat and electricity (for combined systems). Local analysis leads to conclusions other than the global one, as demonstrated by the results presented in the article.