SolarHybrid – Scalable Optimization for Large-scale Advanced Renewable-Hybrid Integrated Devices

The national research project ‘SolarHybrid’ aims to improve PVT systems (hybrid photovoltaic-thermal solar energy supply systems) and reduce their costs. PVT systems have great potential, especially in combination with heat pumps, and the PVT market has grown significantly in recent years. The main areas of application for SolarHybrid are multi-storey residential buildings and industry. In urban areas in particular, PVT offers not only space efficiency advantages but also a silent low-temperature source for heat pumps where other options are limited (e.g. geothermal probes due to cost or space restrictions, air heat pumps due to noise problems). PVT systems enable the use of flexibility potential (e.g. buildings as heat storage, demand side management), synergies with local electricity consumers (e.g. e-mobility) and increase the share of locally generated energy – an important factor in relieving the burden on electricity grids as the heating sector becomes more electrified. In system-oriented component development, SolarHybrid focuses on the development of functional models of PVT collectors with a collector area of 8-15 m². The tasks include thermohydraulic optimisation, lamination and new absorber designs, as well as metrological characterisation. The AEE INTEC energy laboratory offers the appropriate infrastructure for laboratory tests under realistic test conditions.

Additionally SolarHybrid develops digital processes for automating the operational management of PVT systems in order to significantly improve their technical and economic performance. The current state of the art is insufficient in this area: there is a lack of uniform models, and PVT is not covered by relevant standards. The project results will be published via an open-source API and will be available for further research and commercial purposes.