Photovoltaic Thermal Collectors Gain Momentum in Solar Energy Research

Against the backdrop of global climate and environmental degradation, photovoltaic thermal (PVT) collectors have become a hot research topic in solar energy utilization today. PVT collectors convert solar radiation into electrical and thermal energy, extracting thermal energy for storage and use by a heat exchange medium. Researchers from the Changchun Institute of Technology have published a comprehensive review of PVT collectors, highlighting the importance of improving photovoltaic conversion performance and managing thermal energy to achieve efficient output performance. The study provides a uniquely holistic and structured overview of the field, connecting materials, technologies, and applications, and identifying research hotspots through a bibliometric analysis.

Key Takeaways:

• The research highlights the potential of PVT collectors in addressing global climate and environmental degradation, converting solar radiation into electrical and thermal energy.
• The study emphasizes the need to improve photovoltaic conversion performance and manage thermal energy to achieve efficient output performance.
• The comprehensive framework provided by the study connects materials, technologies, and applications, serving as a roadmap for the field.
• A bibliometric analysis was conducted to objectively identify research hotspots in the field of PVT collectors.
• The study classifies thermal management into 'pre-processing' and 'post-absorption' strategies, offering a new perspective on the technological progress of PVT collectors.
• The research concludes that the review offers a new, integrated perspective on the technological progress of PVT collectors.
• The study aims to provide a roadmap for the field of PVT collectors, connecting materials, technologies, and applications.
• The research highlights the importance of funding from organizations such as the Department of Science and Technology of Jilin Province and the Jilin Province Science and Technology Development Plan Project.

Statistics:

• The study provides a comprehensive framework connecting materials, technologies, and applications.
• The bibliometric analysis identified research hotspots in the field of PVT collectors, providing a unique perspective on the technological progress of the field.
• Thermal energy management is a critical aspect of achieving efficient output performance in PVT collectors.
• The study offers a new classification of thermal management into 'pre-processing' and 'post-absorption' strategies.

Sources:

• Department of Science and Technology of Jilin Province (10.13039/501100011789)
• Jilin Province Science and Technology Development Plan Project
• Key Technology Research Progress of Photovoltaic Solar Thermal Collectors: Overview. Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy, 2025;17(5). Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy can be contacted at: Aip Publishing, 1305 Walt Whitman Rd, Ste 300, Melville, NY 11747-4501, USA (American Institute of Physics - www.aip.org; Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy - jrse.aip.org/)
• Liang Pan, Changchun Institute of Technology, College of Energy & Power Engineering, Changchun 130012, Jilin, People's Republic of China.