Thermal performance analysis of 28 PVT solar domestic hot water installations in Western Europe

Hybrid solar PVT has the potential to become a major player in the renewable energy sector, but one of the main barriers is the lack of reliable data due to limited number of monitored PVT hybrid systems with proven thermal performance results. In order to address this issue, a statistical study was realized to analyze in-field performances of twenty-eight hybrid solar domestic hot water installations equipped with innovative non-overglazed PVT collectors in Western Europe (France, Switzerland and Portugal). The results show that PVT technology, more than PV production, is particularly relevant on domestic hot water preheating, with a monthly average of daily maximal temperature (Tmean) in the panels reaching above 45 degrees C during 5 months in the year. The results also demonstrate the robustness of the non-overglazed PVT collector, as the highest stagnation temperature was always measured below 74.5 degrees C, which is very safe in terms of risk of overheating and effect on PV performance. The twenty-eight hybrid solar domestic hot water data base allows the quantify the main deviation compared to the classical simplified production simulations. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.