Solar photovoltaic/thermal(PV/T)systems with/without phase change materials (PCMs): A review

With the global environmental degradation and the sudden increase in energy demand, the creation and use of sustainable energy are crucial to sustain human survival and development on this planet. One of the most popular forms of renewable energy is solar energy, which has garnered a lot of interest in the past few decades due to its abundance of resources and environmental friendliness. Combining photovoltaic modules with solar collectors allows for the simultaneous generation of heat and electricity, what is known as solar photovoltaic/thermal technology which improving the overall efficiency of the system while increasing the space utilization. The fundamental component of PV/T technology, PCM establishes the real photovoltaic panels' operational efficiency. Therefore, this paper summarizes the types of PV/T systems with and without PCM and the current status of related theoretical studies, depending on the thermal extraction method. And we provide an overview of the shortcomings of current research and the future development trend, so as to provide further theoretical references for the advancement of PCMs and PV/T systems.