Development and testing of a dedicated cooling system for photovoltaic panels

Abstract

Solar energy is a viable alternative to fossil fuels, but its efficiency is limited by photovoltaic panel overheating, which causes a decrease in efficiency. This paper suggests a passive cooling method that incorporates aluminum heat sinks beneath the solar cells. This simple, low-cost device maximizes heat dissipation using natural convection. It requires no external energy. The goal is to provide a solution to the challenge of selecting an effective, sustainable, and flexible cooling system while considering technological, economic, and environmental constraints. Experimental results demonstrate that modules fitted with heatsinks experience an average 8.13 °C drop in temperature, as well as a 0.51 V rise in open-circuit voltage when compared to the reference panel. This increase demonstrates how well-designed passive solutions can dramatically improve the energy performance of solar panels. The study emphasizes the relevance of thermal design in photovoltaic system optimization and provides specific opportunities for the development of more efficient solar technologies, particularly in high-temperature situations.