@Source-Energy Panel:
Hybrid photovoltaic/thermal panel
Co-generating Heat and Electricity with Solar panels
@Source-Energy Panel
The @Source-Energy Panel is a hybrid photovoltaic (PV) panel that produces both electricity and heat.
Photovoltaic (PV) cells generate electricity from solar radiance. However, the efficiency of most standard PV panels is around 18%. The remaining 82% of solar energy is reflected off the cells or converted to heat which is detrimental to the panel and the building materials adjacent to the panel. In hot weather the heat generated by the panel reduces its efficiency by about 30%. In fact, the temperature behind PV cells on a summer day can exceed 49 degrees Celsius according to a report published in the ASME Journal of Solar Engineering1. It is clear that removing that heat will increase electricity generated by the panel and prevent the migration of that heat into the building.
The @Source-Energy Panel is a hybrid photovoltaic (PV) panel with a heat recovery system on the back of the panel to capture heat generated by the panel. The panels are installed on standard PV racking.
The thermal energy moved is controlled by a heat pump. Heat pumps have an energy efficiency ranging from 3.5 to 8 times that of typical electrical heating systems. Their life span ranges from 25 to 40 years.
1Published in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Journal of Solar Energy Engineering by Davis, Fanney and Dougherty of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
Photovoltaic Panels
Generate considerable heat behind the cells, which:
- Reduce the electric generating efficiency
- May be destructive to building materials
- Heat from the PV can be transferred through building structure into the interior, increasing cooling costs in summer
- In winter, snow and ice accumulation reduces the efficiency of the PV
@Source-Energy
Collect thermal energy generated by the PV panel:
- Extract the heat generated by the PV panels and stores it for later use
- In summer, PV panels are cooled for optimal efficiency
- During winter, PV panels are heated to prevent snow and ice accumulation
Superior Performance
Competing PV/T panels use tubes to capture the heat from the PV panels, with a small contact surface between the tubes and the PV cells.
The @Source-Energy Panel has a collector plate behind the PV cells, with an optimal contact surface, capturing more of the heat generated by the PV panel.
A 10 panel 320W @Source-Energy PV/T system in Toronto on a south facing roof can eliminate up to 700 kg of CO2 emissions / year by co-generating electricity for self consumption.
We manufacture the @Source-Energy Panel using most commercial PV panels.
