Effective Utilization Of Solar Energy Research Articles

Synergetic integration of photothermal and self-cleaning features in a composite phase change material based on layered double hydroxides and polypyrrole

Composite phase change materials (PCMs) with photothermal functionality play a crucial role in efficiently storing and utilizing solar energy. However, the challenge of effectively removing of contaminants on photothermal conversion coatings has long puzzled researchers. In this study, we propose a novel approach to enhancing both photothermal conversion performance and self-cleaning properties of wood-based composite phase change materials, ultimately facilitating the sustainable and effective utilization of solar energy. The method utilized metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as a precursor to form rough layered double hydroxides (LDH) on the wood surface through hydrolysis-induced exchange. Subsequently, polypyrrole (PPy) was deposited through vapor phase onto the LDH, and paraffin wax (PW) is utilized as the phase change material to prepare a novel composite phase change material. This modified wood structure facilitates leak-proof PW encapsulation and effective heat storage (167.6 J/g). PPy acts as a proficient photothermal converter and improves the composite material's heat transfer efficiency by establishing thermal conduction pathways, resulting in an 87.4 % enhancement in thermal conductivity compared to pure PW. The rough surface of LDH promotes multiple light reflections and scattering within the material, leading to increased light absorption by the PPy coating and achieving a photothermal conversion efficiency of up to 96.4 %. Furthermore, the high roughness of the LDH layer combined with the low surface energy of PW imparts superhydrophobic self-cleaning properties to the material, ensuring sustained effectiveness of the photothermal conversion coating over time. This research presents a viable approach for maintaining the cleanliness and efficiency of solar energy systems.

Broad spectral response of Y-NaBi(MoO4)2@NaYF4:Yb, Tm photocatalysts for efficient degradation of ciprofloxacin: Upconversion mechanism and theoretical calculations

In this work, a novel Y-NaBi(MoO4)2@NaYF4:Yb, Tm composite was successfully synthesized for the first time by hydrothermal method. The lamellar Y-NaBi(MoO4)2 was dispersed on the surface of the hexagonal prism NaYF4:Yb, Tm without aggregation. The composite achieved a broad spectral response. The NaYF4:Yb, Tm absorbed near-infrared light and emitted ultraviolet and visible light by the energy transfer upconversion process. The emitted light was reabsorbed by Y-NaBi(MoO4)2 through the fluorescence resonance energy transfer process. Moreover, the doping of Y3+ ions enhanced the light response capability of the composite. The experimental results revealed that the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of ciprofloxacin (CIP) reached 96.2 % after 180 min of illumination under simulated sunlight. Meanwhile, the degradation pathways and attack sites of CIP were intensively investigated by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis and density functional theory theoretical calculations. The upconversion process, the separation of photogenerated carriers and rare earth metal ion doping all contributed to the high effective photodegradation. This work provided a new strategy for effective utilization of solar energy for the degradation of emerging pollutants to mitigate environmental pollution.

Green-light wavelength-selective organic solar cells: module fabrication and crop evaluation towards agrivoltaics

Green-light wavelength-selective organic solar cells (GLWS-OSCs) pioneer novel agrivoltaics in greenhouses via transforming solar energy in the green-light region to electricity while simultaneously growing crops by utilizing the transmitted blue and red lights. However, the development of GLWS-OSCs has been stymied due to the limited availability of donors and acceptors. Herein, we investigate the combination of a cost-effective poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) donor with a fluorinated-naphthobisthiadiazole-based non-fullerene acceptor (FNTz-FA) for GLWS-OSC application. FNTz-FA shows an intense absorption band between 500 and 600 nm and a high level of chemical stability. OSCs based on P3HT and FNTz-FA with an inverted configuration are optimized to show high green-light wavelength-selective absorption and power conversion efficiency in the green-light region. Furthermore, large-scale device fabrication has been considered, leading to the development of 100 and 400 cm2 scale OSC modules. These modules showed sustained solar cell performance after 180 days. Photosynthetic rate measurements indicate that transmissions by the P3HT:FNTz-FA film show a non-obstructing nature and the advantage of green-light wavelength-selectivity in crop growth. Preliminary investigations on the growth of tomatoes have shown the potential of P3HT:FNTz-FA-based OSCs for agrivoltaics. These results demonstrate that GLWS-OSCs are a valid candidate to realize agrivoltaics in greenhouses for an effective utilization of solar energy.

Exergy assessment of a semi-transparent building integrated photovoltaic facade for mild weather conditions of Srinagar

Abstract Effective utilization of solar energy reduces the dependence on fossil fuel usage along with achieving the objective of carbon neutrality. The current work aims to numerically assess the performance of a facade based semi-transparent BIPVT system while considering four different weather conditions in a month for the climate of Srinagar, India. In the proposed configuration, the BiSPVT facade serves the dual purpose of generating electrical power gain and providing pre-heated air for space heating. PV module surface was cooled by flowing air through the air channel. Movement of air through the cavity takes away the heat from the PV module back surface reducing the temperature of the solar cells resulting in enhanced module efficiency. System performance has been evaluated in terms of obtained energy and exergy using a 1-D numerical model developed in MATLAB. The Exergy analysis presented shows an informative means of estimating system functioning based on qualitative aspect of useful energy gained. For a mild cold weather condition of Srinagar, with minimum ambient temperature dropping to 1.2 °C, useful daily exergy gain of 0.0545 kWh/m2 has been achieved signifying the increase of space heating during winters of cold climatic regions. Maximum temperature difference between room and ambient was obtained as 9.76 °C using the BiSPVT façade. Results shows that the proposed BiSPVT system was able to produce monthly electrical and thermal exergy gain of 12.56 kWh/m2 and 16.81 kWh/m2 respectively. Exergy efficiency of the system was determined in the range of 18.2%-19%. Further, environmental assessment of the PV façade system based on CO2 emission gave an estimated amount of 0.387-ton CO2 emission reduction for the month of November leading to environmental cost reduction of 5.615$/month.

The Quest for Two-Dimensional MBenes: From Structural Evolution to Solar-Driven Hybrid Systems for Water-Fuel-Energy Generation and Phototherapy.

The field of 2D materials has advanced significantlywith the emergence of MBenes, a newmaterial derived from the MAX phases family, a novel class of materials that originates from the MAX phases family. Herein, this article explores the unique characteristics and morphological variations of MBenes, offering a comprehensive overview of their structural evolution. First, the discussion explores the evolutionary period of 2D MBenes associated with the several techniques for synthesizing, modifying, and characterizing MBenes to tailor their structure and enhance their functionality. The focus then shifts to the defect chemistry of MBenes, electronic, catalytic, and photothermal properties which play a crucial role in designing multifunctional solar-driven hybrid systems. Second, the recent advancements and potentials of 2D MBenes in solar-driven hybrid systems e.g. photo-electro catalysis, hybrid solar evaporators for freshwater and thermoelectric generators, and phototherapy, emphasizing their crucial significance in tackling energy and environmental issues, are explored. The study further explores the fundamental principles that regulate the improved photocatalytic and photothermal characteristics of MBenes, highlighting their promise for effective utilization of solar energy and remediation of the environment. The study also thoroughly assesses MBenes' scalability, stability, and cost effectiveness in solar-driven systems. Current insights and future directions allow researchers toutilize MBenes for sustainable and varied applications. This review regarding MBenes will be valuable to early researchers intrigued with synthesizing and utilizing 2D materials for solar-powered water-energy-fuel and phototherapy systems.

Effects of Multispectral Absorbing Coating on the Generated Voltage of Solar Radiation–Thermoelectric System

The effective utilization of solar energy is an important development direction to realize the exploration of clean energy. Herein, a model of solar radiation–thermoelectric generation (TEG) system is established, which is composed of solar absorbing coating and TEG component. Five different microscopic structures of coating are designed and the spectral absorption properties are numerically analyzed with the finite‐difference time‐domain method. Then, the absorbed solar energy and produced open‐circuit voltage with different coating structures are compared, with the coupling calculation of temperature field and electromagnetic field achieved. Additionally, the effects of structural size parameters on the output voltage performance are discussed. It can be observed that the absorbing coating can effectively improve the performance of TEG component, and the multilayer structure with appropriate gold particle diameter chosen is an optimization research direction for more efficient energy conversion.

Preparation and characterization of chitosan/ZnO-Ag composite microcapsules and their applications in solar energy harvesting and electromagnetic interference shielding

Phase change microcapsules are known for their latent heat storage capability. However, the efficient absorption and utilization of solar energy by these microcapsules remains a significant challenge. In this study, we successfully prepared composite phase change microcapsules containing ZnO-Ag nanospheres, chitosan, and paraffin. These microcapsules demonstrated remarkable photothermal conversion efficiency. ZnO was found to effectively absorb ultraviolet light, while the plasmonic resonance of Ag was utilized to absorb and make use of light energy in the visible region. Moreover, due to the synergistic absorption and reflection of electromagnetic waves by ZnO-Ag nanoparticles and graphene, the well-dispersed chitosan/ZnO-Ag composite microcapsules and graphene in the fabric coating demonstrated exceptional electromagnetic shielding performance. In addition, the coated fabric based on composite microcapsules exhibited excellent antibacterial properties, effectively inhibiting the growth of bacteria such as S. aureus and E. coli. This antibacterial performance adds to their potential applications in various fields. These multifunctional phase change microcapsules offer vast potential for the effective utilization of solar energy, serving as efficient photothermal conversion and energy storage materials.

Experimental investigation on parameter optimization of liquid spectral beam splitter for continuous photocatalytic hydrogen production accompanied with photovoltaic power generation under solar full spectrum

Effective utilization of solar energy is of great significance for a sustainable future. Herein, we report a cascade system for hydrogen-electricity co-production (PH-PV) utilizing solar full spectrum. The output performance of the system can be precisely adjusted by controlling certain parameters of liquid spectral beam splitter (LSBS) which contains TiO2 nanoparticle suspension simultaneously generating hydrogen via a photocatalytic reaction process. Typically, the thickness of LSBS, the loading amount of TiO2, the flowrate of suspension and the light intensity have been investigated in detail. It is found that LSBS is necessary in our system as it could ensure the safe operation of PV while the light intensities larger than 8 suns. With the decrease of the thickness or loading amount of photocatalyst, more electricity could be produced by PV module but less hydrogen from PH module. Further increase of above two parameters simultaneously could lead to aggregation and settlement of particle suspension in LSBS, which is detrimental to the optical absorbance of the system. Besides, changing the flowrate will diversify the surface features of particles by shear-induced effect. At optimal flowrate, the particles in LSBS could exhibit oscillation characteristics under synergistic effect of shear force and gravity, which would lead to excellent light absorption and transmittance. Furthermore, an obvious gain for both hydrogen and electricity output and system efficiency could be obtained through increasing light intensity appropriately. Finally, the improved merit function (MF) was employed to evaluate the performance of hybrid system and more obvious effect of flowrate on MF value than other parameters was found. The optimal MF value of 3.07 was reached when flowrate was 60 mL/min. Our work is expected to provide important guidance for the optimization of PH-PV cascade system driven by outdoor direct solar energy.

Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Property of TiO2 Nanotube Array Photoanode Deposited with Al,Cr-Codoped SrTiO3 Nanocubes.

There is a demand for the effective utilization of solar energy with highly functional photoelectrodes for photoelectrochemical (PEC) applications, such as water splitting and CO2 reduction. TiO2 nanotube arrays (TNTA) with a large surface area have been studied as potential photoelectrodes mainly due to their strong oxidation potential. However, it has disadvantages of fast charge recombination and little responsivity to visible light. In this study, we prepared TNTA by anodizing a Ti plate and decorated the TNTA with Al,Cr-codoped SrTiO3 (STO) nanocubes through a hydrothermal treatment to enhance the PEC properties. We also prepared pristine and undoped STO-decorated TNTA for comparison. The hydrothermal treatment duration was optimized for the TNTA-STO:Al,Cr sample to achieve the best PEC performance. Finally, the possible PEC reaction mechanism was proposed based on the obtained experimental results.

A pragmatic perspective article: synergistic photocatalytic–photothermal effect with its practical applications and future prospects

The synergistic photocatalytic–photothermal effect realizes more effective utilization of solar energy, which can be used in the fields of hydrogen generation, carbon dioxide reduction, sterilization and membrane separation.

Exploring Global Solar Radiation: Enhancing Ground-Level Solar Radiation Prediction using Hottel's Semi-Empirical Model and Sunshine Duration Analysis

The effective utilization of solar energy at a specific geographical locale is contingent upon the acquisition and assimilation of comprehensive and meticulous solar radiation data pertinent to that specific site. A profound understanding of these datasets constitutes a pivotal factor in the precision-driven design and dimensioning of solar energy systems. It ensues that the attainment of accurate system dimensioning is contingent upon the continual availability of spatially and temporally resolved measurements. The principal objective of this research endeavor is to expound upon the methodological approach employed in the computation of solar energy parameters, alongside the delineation of the pertinent dataset by extrapolating salient insights. Prior to the initiation of any optimization endeavor, a methodical scrutiny of the geospatial and temporal distribution of solar insolation stands as a preeminent prerequisite, indispensably contributing to the efficacious implementation of solar infrastructure. The assessment of solar energy generation potential within the examined region necessitates a meticulous investigation of the theoretical solar resource inherent to Khouribga. Through a meticulous computation regimen encompassing insolation and solar irradiance metrics, this investigation facilitates the discernment of the optimal incident angle for maximal energy absorption by solar photovoltaic cells.

Designing and performance assessment of a hybrid CAES based CHP system integrated with solar energy and heat pump

In this paper, a novel combined heat and power system based on compressed air energy storage (CAES) coupled with a solar collector system was introduced. Based on the significant effect of heat pumps in improving heat quality, the heat pump and solar energy are adopted to improve energy storage and economic performance. To maximize the effective utilization of solar energy, the energy dispatch scheme of the system has been studied in detail. The system's performance under multiple operating conditions has been evaluated. Moreover, to further explore the optimization potential of the solar-coupled compressed air energy storage system, important factors such as the distribution proportion of thermal oil and key temperature have been emphasized and analyzed. The optimization of key temperature, distribution proportion of thermal oil, and operating conditions can enhance the cascade utilization of energy, and also provide a comprehensive approach for the design and optimization of the proposed system. Parametric sensitivity analysis was first conducted. Results show that the charging pressure should be close to the discharging pressure and there is no local optimal distribution ratio for the thermal oil. The optimal condition under design constraints is also determined, the system power efficiency, energy efficiency, and power-to-power efficiency reached 0.297, 0.851, and 0.570, while the levelized cost of storage of the system is 0.527 $/kWh, the dynamic payback period is 9.516 and simple payback period is 7.428 under the specified conditions. The output power and heat in 6 h of discharging are 3829.50 kWh and 7147.48 kWh, respectively, with a total investment cost of 7373.57k$. Moreover, the exergy and economic analyses were then conducted. The highest exergy losses were caused by the solar collector system with 29.01% of the total loss. The turbines and the solar system also had the highest economic cost, indicating directions for further optimization.

TiO2@TiOx homojunction photocatalyst: Self-doped preparation and superior photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and dye degradation

So far, there still existed many challenges on the effective utilization of solar energy and rapid transportation of photo-generated carrier in the photocatalysis fields. The constructing structural/functional configuration of photocatalyst by combining the homojunctions with oxygen vacancies (Ov) was a good project to overcome these inherent disadvantages. Herein, the homogeneous TiO2@TiOX photocatalysts were designed and fabricated by a solid-phase thermal reduction technology using sodium borohydride as a reducing agent. The structure, morphology, chemical binding, active species and photo-electrochemical properties of the TiO2@TiOX were sufficiently investigated via various characterization techniques and indicated that the high-quality homojunction at the TiO2-TiOX interface and abundant oxygen vacancies on the surface was formed. The photocatalytic degradation and H2 production experiment showed that the constructed TiO2@TiOX exhibited more outstanding photocatalytic performances, which was 1.4 times higher and 2 times higher than that of the Raw TiO2, respectively. The photocatalytic mechanism was proposed that the synergistic effect of optical and electrical properties of TiO2@TiOX, such as narrow gap edge and significant enhancement in conductivity, greatly strengthened the photo-response, expanded the response range of spectrum, enhanced photocarriers migration and the photocatalytic activity. This work could provide new opportunity into the design of novel structures of photocatalyst for more efficient light conversion applications.

Series energy management strategy for effective utilization of solar energy in electric vehicle

Series energy management strategy for effective utilization of solar energy in electric vehicle

Exploring enhanced interfacial charge separation in ZnO/reduced graphene oxide hybrids on alkaline photoelectrochemical water splitting and photocatalytic pollutant degradation

Visible light-driven photocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis have been intensively investigated for environmental remediation and green fuel generation. A highly efficient dual functional catalyst based on rGO decorated ZnO was synthesized by a hydrothermal method. The rGO incorporation facilitates the effective utilization of solar energy and improves the charge carrier separation and transportation efficiency. 0.5 wt% GO incorporated ZnO/rGO hybrid shows the highest photocatalytic activity towards pollutant degradation. Pure ZnO shows photocatalytic efficiency of 85 %, while ZnO/rGO shows 95 % degradation efficiency. The apparent rate constant of ZnO/rGO (67 × 10−3 min−1) showed 2.7 fold enhancement in comparison to bare ZnO (24 × 10−3 min−1). Consequently, ZnO/rGO shows highest hydrogen evolution activity by photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) water splitting in alkaline medium with a significantly lower overpotential of only 755 mV at 10 mA/cm2. The Tafel slope 101 mV/dec obtained for the ZnO/rGO hybrid is much lower than that of ZnO (149 mV/dec). This significant enhancement in photoelectrocatalytic activity of the hybrid can be attributed to the enhanced visible light absorption and reduced charge carrier recombination upon rGO incorporation. PL, TCSPC, and photocurrent response measurements deepens the investigation of the separation efficiency of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. The observations provide novel insights into the development of photocatalysts that possess dual functions for the water-solar energy nexus.

Changing Directions: Influence of Ligand Electronics on the Directionality and Kinetics of Photoinduced Charge Transfer in Cu(I)Diimine Complexes.

A key challenge to the effective utilization of solar energy is to promote efficient photoinduced charge transfer, specifically avoiding unproductive, circuitous electron-transfer pathways and optimizing the kinetics of charge separation and recombination. We hypothesize that one way to address this challenge is to develop a fundamental understanding of how to initiate and control directional photoinduced charge transfer, particularly for earth-abundant first-row transition-metal coordination complexes, which typically suffer from relatively short excited-state lifetimes. Here, we report a series of functionalized heteroleptic copper(I)bis(phenanthroline) complexes, which have allowed us to investigate the directionality of intramolecular photoinduced metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) as a function of the substituent Hammett parameter. Ultrafast transient absorption suggests a complicated interplay of MLCT localization and solvent interaction with the Cu(II) center of the MLCT state. This work provides a set of design principles for directional charge transfer in earth-abundant complexes and can be used to efficiently design pathways for connecting the molecular modules to catalysts or electrodes and integration into systems for light-driven catalysis.

Effective Utilization of Solar Energy for the Production of Green Hydrogen from Photovoltaic Powered Electrolyzer

Abstract Hydrogen is considered as the fuel of the future. But currently, efficient, clean, and cheap hydrogen production is one of the challenging tasks. In this article, a clean and cheap hydrogen gas is produced through an alkaline-based water electrolyzer powered by a photovoltaic (PV) module, 27-wt. % sodium hydroxide is used as an electrolyte, and the electrolyzer is constructed by using stainless steel anode and nickel-platted stainless-steel cathode. The radiation on a PV module and current from the PV module is measured, and it is found that maximum radiation and current is possible in May. The ideal volume of hydrogen gas is calculated using Faraday’s, and the actual volume produced is also measured. It is found that the volume of hydrogen gas produced is dependent on the solar flux available. The maximum amount of 100 L of hydrogen gas produced is found to be in May, whereas the minimum is witnessed in August. The effectiveness of hydrogen gas is also calculated to determine the losses in the electrolyzer. The electrolyzer is found to be 15 % effective. Future directions of the research are also provided to improve the effectiveness of the electrolyzer.

Photothermally boosted Fenton-like activity of copper sulfide toward the catalytic degradation of 4-chlorophenol

Fenton/Fenton-like reactions have promising implications in biomedicine and environment-related remediation. However, their applications are still limited because of incomplete light utilization, low energy-conversion efficiency, and inefficient H2O2 utilization. Herein, near infrared (NIR) light absorbance and photothermal conversion were utilized for H2O2 activation to achieve 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) elimination from water by using a typical doped copper sulfide (Cu2−xS) semiconductor developed via a hydrothermal method. The obtained CuS is not only an attractive Fenton-like agent but also exhibits efficient photothermal conversion performance in the NIR spectral range, which broadens the use of the solar spectrum and is beneficial to the photothermal-enhanced Fenton-like degradation process. As expected, by irradiating with an NIR laser (1064 nm), the CuS exhibits excellent NIR absorption capacity and produces hyperpyrexia above 50 ℃. Importantly, the photothermal effects of the CuS nanosheets significantly enhanced the yield of the Fenton-like reaction by accelerating the generation and diffusion of free radicals (h+, •O2-, 1O2, and especially •OH), which enabled the key mechanism for pollutant degradation. In addition, CuS nanosheets exhibited good stability during the degradation of 4-CP, with low metal-ion leakage and a broad pH range applicability, and the degradation rate was hardly affected by laser power, catalyst concentration, and the presence of metal ions. These results demonstrate the strong potential of the photothermal-enhanced Fenton-like effect in pollutant degradation and propose a promising strategy for environmental remediation with the effective utilization of solar energy.

Precise Tuning Near‐Infrared Photothermal Conversion of Ternary Cocrystals via Supramolecular Interactions

Effective utilization of solar energy through cocrystal strategy is still a considerable challenge. Herein, the ternary cocrystal strategy is subtly applied to broaden the absorption of cocrystals, resulting in an efficient solar photothermal conversion (PTC). Specifically, the donors of triphenylene (T) and perylene (P) and guest molecules anthracene (AT), pyrene (PY), and perylene (P) are self‐assembled with 7,7,8,8‐tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) to obtain five ternary cocrystals (AT‐T‐TCNQ, PY‐T‐T‐TCNQ, AT‐P‐TCNQ, PY‐P‐TCNQ, and P‐P‐TCNQ). The PTC of ternary cocrystals can be regulated by changing the number of benzene rings of donor and guest molecules, which may be attributed to the π–π and C–H···π intermolecular interactions. Femtosecond transient absorption and excited‐state theoretical calculations confirm that the intense π–π stacking interactions facilitate the light‐harvesting capability, while the weak C–H···π interactions are conducive to molecular stacking loosening and thus facilitate the rotation of C(C ≡ N)2, which promotes nonradiative transition to achieve the efficient PTC. As expected, the PTC efficiencies of AT‐T‐TCNQ, PY‐T‐TCNQ, AT‐P‐TCNQ, PY‐P‐TCNQ, and P‐P‐TCNQ are 59.62%, 63.07%, 81.72%, 79.06%, and 87.72%, respectively, under 808 nm irradiation. Due to the P‐P‐TCNQ having excellent near‐infrared PTC efficiency, it is applied in a solar‐driven interfacial heating evaporation system, gaining a decent evaporation efficiency (83.1%).

Potential of Integrating Solar Energy into Systems of Thermal Power Generation, Cooling-Refrigeration, Hydrogen Production, and Carbon Capture

Abstract Global warming due to the accumulation of CO2 in the atmosphere has directed global attention toward the adaptation of renewable energies and the use of renewable energy resources, like solar energy. Solar energy utilization could contribute to clean energy production, which is continuously needed due to increased population and industrialization. Recent increasing anxieties over energy sustainability and the preservation of the falling global ecosystem have renewed the expedition for extra efficient and economical processes for the utilization of renewable energy. Various approaches have been developed for the effective utilization of solar energy in different fields, which are highlighted in this work. In power generation, solar energy is utilized in preheating the air upstream of the combustion chamber in gas turbines and in waste heat recovery for combined-cogeneration cycles. It can also be used in Rankine cycles of thermal power plants utilizing low critical temperature gases such as CO2. In cooling and refrigeration systems, solar energy is utilized in reboilers, absorption, and mechanical cooling systems. Solar energy can also be utilized to produce clean fuels such as H2 production either from water splitting or from light and heavy fuels via fuel reforming and membrane separation. In addition, solar systems can be integrated to carbon capture applications in each of its three technologies of precombustion, oxyfuel combustion, and post-combustion. Integration of solar energy in these processes is reviewed comprehensively in this work. Thus, the solar energy in power generation, cooling-refrigeration, hydrogen production-storage, and carbon capture technologies are analyzed and evaluated.