Hybrid Solar Collector Generates Electricity & Heat Simultaneously-


A brand new, cutting-edge hybrid solar collector, which incorporates both photovoltaic (PV) power generation with solar water heating, is taking the renewable energy industry by storm. The concept originated from the *Task 35, a task group from International Energy Agency that aims to spur the development and market introduction of high quality and commercially-competitive PV-T hybrid systems. The focus in a PV-T hybrid system is a photovoltaic/thermal module – or PV-T module – which is a combination of photovoltaic cells with a solar thermal collector. The result is one exceptional mechanism that converts solar radiation into electricity and heat synchronously. Additionally, PV-T modules can produce more energy per unit surface area than side by side photovoltaic panels and solar thermal collectors, at a substantially lower production and installation cost. Due to their high efficiency, PV-T systems are exceptionally beneficial in applications using both heat and power, and can operate efficiently even with limited roof space. Another advantage of combining PV and solar thermal is that by cooling off the PV modules, the efficiency increases.

PV modules tend to lose roughly 0.5 percent of output for every degree Celsius of temperature rise. This new solar hybrid technology can offer PV efficiency as high as 28 percent while producing 60-70 °Celsius (140-160 °Fahrenheit) water. A PV-T hybrid panel maintained at an average of 45 °Celsius will generate approximately 20 percent more electrical output over a 12-month period, when compared to a PV system with the same peak output. The PV-T hybrid collector embodies optimal electricity production, as it is capable of generating 175 Watts of peak electrical output and 460 watts (1,570 Btu/Hour) of thermal output. Solimpeks Corp., a leader in the PVT market, has been awarded a research grant on exploration of new PVT types by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBITAK). With this highly competitive research grant, the company is able to move from testing to mass production. According to Solimpeks, the PV-T market is anticipated to grow 20 percent after 2010. The company claims that 25 square meters (270 square feet) of collector would be plenty for an average northern European home to meet both hot water and electrical demand over the course of one year.