Advanced cooling techniques for photovoltaic systems

The falling cost for photovoltaic (PV) cells and the rising demand to move away from oil and gas will make PVs the dominant global energy source in the future. PVs are commonly positioned on roofs and often PVs need extra cooling systems. The most common cooling technique is water pumped through a piping system which is behind the PV panels. However, cooling system with pipes and water are heavy and add additional weight to the roof structure. Therefore, many roof structures are unsuitable for PV systems unless a new roof structure is build which is often too expensive. In addition, the water pump requires substantial amount of electric power as it needs to pump the cooling water from the ground to the top of the roof. Electric pumps can take up to 10-15% of the produced energy from the PV system which makes PV system less efficient. This research project will propose cooling techniques that are lighter, do not require electric pumps and are of low-cost. The work will help to accelerate the transition to more PV systems as it tackles one of the main bottlenecks in PV systems.

Newcastle University is committed to being a fully inclusive Global University which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society.  We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all our employees and the communities they represent.  We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from everybody, regardless of race, sex, ethnicity, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital status/civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, as well as being open to flexible working practices.