Design and Performance Comparison of Solar PV & PV/T Systems with Enhanced System Efficiency

This article provides the design and performance comparison of a solar photovoltaic-thermal (PV/T) system in contrast to a conventional solar photovoltaic (PV) system. The simulations are done using PVsyst software. The solar PV/T system combines photovoltaic and thermal technology to improve system efficiency. The comparative analyses for solar PV and PV/T systems are carried out for a geographical location of NIT Srinagar, Kashmir, India, having a latitude of $\text{3 4. 1 2 1 7}^{\circ}$ North and a longitude of 74.8372° East in order to determine the technical viability of PV and PV/T systems specifically at the above mentioned location. The simulative results demonstrate that the electrical performance of the presented solar PV/T system operating at an ambient temperature of 40° C is similar to that of a conventional solar PV system operating at 25° C. Thus, the results reflect that the solar PV/T system improves performance for a temperature difference of 15° C. The well-known fact is that the solar PV system efficiency increases with the decrease in the operating temperature. The simulation results establish this fact and emphasize the improved performance of the solar PV/T system. A practical solar PV/T system stands installed at the NIT Srinagar campus. Further research will contribute to establishing these simulative results for the practical system.