A pilot solar hybrid Photovoltaic Thermal (PVT) system has been operational in Sydney Australia since April 2018. It has operated without issue since this date and records the amount of electrical and heat energy produced by the PVT panels. A chart below indicates the energy and power produced over a one day period in August 2019:
Pilot system specs
28 x 300W LG Neon panels using microinverters
27 x thermal (Coolsheet) panels
45 degree tilt
North facing (equivalent of south facing in Europe)
Heating a 75,000 litre pool
One variable speed pool pump operating at 75% for pool filtration and PVT system
Through constant research and development thermal efficiency is constantly being improved
PV/T thermal image showing the cooling effect of the Coolsheets which are behind the PV panels. Note that the PV panel in the bottom left corner did not have a Coolsheet behind it, and was therefore hotter.
PVT Lab’s Coolsheet Research and Development efforts were recognised in the Dec 2019 International Energy Agency’s Solar Heating and Cooling (IEA SHC) Newsletter.