Existing PVT systems and solutions

Throughout the world, many new technologies and projects are currently being undertaken to assist in the reduction of fossil fuel consumption. While the focus has been in th eelectrical and transport sector, significant progress has been made in the combined realm of renewable electricity and heat production based on photovoltaic thermal collectors (PVT). In several European countries the PVT market is picking up speed.The possible applications for PVT-collectors are very varied and range from e.g. swimming pool heating to solar heat for industrial processes. Many of the already installed PVT systems are small in nature, but are able to satisfy a huge fraction of the overall onsite thermal and electrical energy demand, and serve as a good demonstration of the potential fuel savings. A good, though not all encompassing, survey of currently operating PVTplants has been conducted. Within this survey, 22.920 PVT-systems were identified. A Global market overview and a sample of installed PVT systems with various PVT-collector types are exhibited in the following chapters, spanning most of the relevant PVT applications. These case studies include a general description of the solar installation, the overall heat supply concept and integration scheme, and other pertinent information to provide a deeper understanding of the subtleties of such projects.