A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON EXPLORATION OF PHOTOVOLTAIC THERMAL TECHNOLOGY: PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS AND CONTEMPORARY ADVANCEMENTS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59415/mjacs.347Keywords:
PVT photovoltaic thermal cells, Solar energy, water and airAbstract
With the accelerating biodiversity loss and escalating costs of traditional sources of energy, global attention is now focused on resilient and sustainable alternatives.
Solar energy is the most affordable, clean, readily available, and ecologically friendly of the several renewable energy sources. Photovoltaic Thermal (PVT) technology is a major advancement in this field. It uses solar thermal collectors and photovoltaic (PV) cells in a synergistic way to generate electricity and collect useable heat energy simultaneously.
Higher operating temperatures considerably diminish the electrical efficiency of conventional photovoltaic (PV) systems.
By using a working fluid (such as water or air) to actively cool the PV cells, PVT systems solve this problem and increase electrical production while capturing waste heat. Researchers have created cutting-edge designs for heat collectors and novel PV materials to improve system performance overall.
This paper presents a comprehensive review of PVT systems, highlighting their principle of operation, material advancements, categorization (air-based, water-based, nanofluid-based systems), and the range of analytical and experimental methods employed in their assessment. Additionally, the research highlights the technical and economic benefits of PVT systems and highlights their potential for large-scale, building-integrated use. The findings validate the contribution of PVT technology toward the development of the future of sustainable, high-efficiency solar energy solutions.
Downloads
References
1. El Alami, Y., Baghaz, E., Nasrin, R., Al-Damook, M., Bendaoud, R., Bouragba, T., ... & Benhmida, M. (2025). Up‐to‐Date Review on Flat‐Plate Solar Hybrid Photovoltaic Thermal Systems: Absorber Designs and Fabrication Materials. International Journal of Energy Research, 2025(1), 5547555. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/er/5547555
2. Kumar, A., Baredar, P., & Qureshi, U. (2015). Historical and recent development of photovoltaic thermal (PVT) technologies. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 42, 1428-1436. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2014.11.044
3. Tiwari, A. K., Chatterjee, K., Agrawal, S., & Singh, G. K. (2023). A comprehensive review of photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) technology: Performance evaluation and contemporary development. Energy Reports, 10, 2655-2679. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2023.09.043
4. Arulprakasajothi, M., Karthikeyan, L., Saranya, A., Poyyamozhi, N., & Prabhakar, P. (2025). Comparative analysis of air-based Photovoltaic Thermal (PVT) systems with enhanced performance through fins and baffles: Experimental and CFD study. Thermal Science and Engineering Progress, 103736. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsep.2025.103736
5. Aspetakis, G., & Wang, Q. (2025). Critical review of Air-Based PVT technology and its integration to building energy systems. Energy and Built Environment, 6(1), 121-135. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbenv.2023.10.001
6. Mohd. Yusof Othman, Baharudin Yatim, Kamaruzzaman Sopian, Mohd. Nazari Abu Bakar, Performance studies on a finned double-pass photovoltaic-thermal (PV/T) solar collector, Desalination.
7. Rakesh Kumar, Marc A. Rosen, Performance evaluation of a double pass PV/T solar air heater with and without fins, Applied Thermal Engineering.
8. Choi, H. U. (2025). Dynamic analysis of air-based photovoltaic–thermal system with fins and rectangular obstacles. Applied Thermal Engineering, 272, 126412. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2025.126412
9. Ul-Abdin, Z., Zeman, M., Isabella, O., & Santbergen, R. (2024). Investigating the annual performance of air-based collectors and novel bi-fluid based PV-thermal system. Solar Energy, 276, 112687. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2024.112687
10. Basuhaib, A., Selvaraj, J., Hasanuzzaman, M., Anjum, T., & Kumar, L. (2024). Experimental investigation the effect of different operating parameters and optimized the water-based PVT system for domestic applications. Solar Energy, 268, 112278. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2023.112278
11. Alnakeeb, M. A., Salam, M. A. A., Hassab, M. A., & El-Maghlany, W. M. (2024). Numerical study of thermal and electrical performance of a new configuration of hybrid photovoltaic solar panel phase-change material cooling system. Journal of Energy Storage, 97, 112945. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2024.112945
12. Madadi, M., & Arani, A. A. A. (2025). Experimental evaluation of photovoltaic thermal (PVT) system using a modular heat collector with flat back shape fins, pipe, nanofluids and phase change material. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 280, 113294. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2024.113294
13. Rathor, S. K., Dubey, V., Chakraborty, A., Dugad, S., & Tiwari, N. (2024). Numerical study of combined phase change material and water cooling in hybrid wavy microchannels for HCPV cell. Applied Thermal Engineering, 236, 121838. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2023.121838
14. Liu, H., Zhang, J., Pei, M., Ju, X., Ju, X., & Xu, C. (2024). Optical, electrical, and thermal performance enhancement for a concentrating photovoltaic/thermal system using optimized polynomial compound parabolic concentrators. Applied Energy, 358, 122596. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2023.122596
15. Sheikholeslami, M., & Khalili, Z. (2024). Simulation for impact of nanofluid spectral splitter on efficiency of concentrated solar photovoltaic thermal system. Sustainable Cities and Society, 101, 105139. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2023.105139
16. Xu, S. J., Wu, S. Y., Xiao, L., Xue, P., & Wang, C. Y. (2024). Overall performance evaluation of a novel optical truncation method for compound parabolic concentrated photovoltaic-thermal system. Renewable Energy, 228, 120621. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2024.120621
17. Qian, Y., Ji, J., Xie, H., Jia, H., Meng, H., Li, J., & Mu, Y. (2024). Performance investigation of multi-functional series-connected building-integrated photovoltaic/thermal system and analysis of its multi-objective optimization design strategy. Building and Environment, 266, 112126. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2024.112126
18. Gallero, F. J. G., Siles, G. G., Maestre, I. R., Blazquez, J. L. F., & Bottarelli, M. (2024). Performance analysis of a novel façade-based building integrated photovoltaic-thermal system with phase change material for domestic hot water. Applied Thermal Engineering, 240, 122321. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2023.122321
19. Constantinou, S., Al‐naemi, F., Alrashidi, H., Mallick, T., & Issa, W. (2024). A review on technological and urban sustainability perspectives of advanced building‐integrated photovoltaics. Energy Science & Engineering, 12(3), 1265-1293. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ese3.1639
20. Ahmed, M. F., Kabir, M. H., & Islam, M. R. (2024). Photovoltaic Thermal (PVT) Systems: Coupling Solar Cells with Heat Harvesting for Increased Overall Efficiency.
21. Herez, A., Jaber, H., Ramadan, M., Lemenand, T., El Hage, H., Khaled, M., ... & Hussein, M. (2025). Recent advances in hybrid photovoltaic/thermal (PVT) systems: A comprehensive review of performance, configurations, and emerging technologies. Energy Conversion and Management: X, 101235. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecmx.2025.101235
22. Talal, M. R., Ismaeel, A. A., & Kareem, I. S. (2024). A review of the existing advance of photovoltaic thermal air collector: drawbacks and future development. Journal of Renewable Energy and Environment, 11(4), 165-204.
23. Ma, Z., Zhao, H., Yan, Z., & Song, J. (2025). Advances and development trends in solar photovoltaic-thermal technology: a review. Clean Energy, 9(4), 98-122. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ce/zkaf020
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Chinna Devi C N, Devika Rani G Shetty, Annapoorna L, Kusuma C, Ranjith Kumar S
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
License Statement
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
Authors who publish with mLAC Journal for Arts, Commerce and Sciences (m-JACS) retain copyright of their articles and grant the journal the right of first publication.
This license allows others to share, use, and build upon the work—commercially or non-commercially—as long as appropriate credit is given to the original authors and source, and any changes are indicated.
The journal encourages open access and supports the free exchange of knowledge while ensuring proper attribution of original work.
