Author
Lior Kahana
Advertisement
Articles written by Lior Kahana
The impact of phase change material on rear-side PV heat transfer
A year-long outdoor experiment in Milan found that a PCM-backed PV module had 45.2% lower median rear-side convective heat flux than a reference module. The researchers also found that PCM’s thermal history affected heat rejection, even when its rear surface was at the same temperature.
Sep 25, 2026
Ventilator exhaust air, evaporative cooling boost residential heat pump efficiency
South Korean researchers have developed a residential air-source heat pump concept that combines energy recovery ventilator exhaust air with direct evaporative cooling. The system improved COP by 7.3% to 15.2% under hot and humid conditions and could be suitable for retrofitting existing heat pumps.
Study finds up to 27.1% bifacial PV gain across five Indian climate zones
Indian researchers found that bifacial PV systems can deliver gains of 8.36% to 27.10% over monofacial systems, depending on climate and ground albedo. Higher-reflectance surfaces increased energy yield while reducing lifecycle emissions, carbon payback times, and levelized electricity costs.
Advertisement
Negative electricity prices could favor thermal storage over industrial heat pumps
Researchers compared the two technologies under varying negative-price frequencies, price levels and equipment costs. Their model found that the preferred option depended strongly on the required heat temperature, with storage gaining an advantage for steam production.
Cost-effective pathways for hybrid heat pump retrofits
German researchers have developed a framework for integrating the simulation of a hybrid heat pump system into the techno-economic assessment of sequencing and bundling of building retrofits. A case study shows that the timing of building retrofit measures can significantly affect heating demand and the economics of the overall retrofit.
AI-assisted method maps PV module losses from a single luminescence image
An international research team has developed an AI-assisted method that quantifies PV module power losses from a single luminescence image. The approach achieved an overall error of around 0.5% in tests on 300 field-retrieved modules and was demonstrated using drone-based imaging at a 186 kW solar farm.
Advertisement
Predictive control cuts costs in buildings combining PV, heat pumps, EVs, thermal storage
Researchers have developed a predictive rule-based control strategy for building energy systems integrating PV, heat pumps, thermal storage, and electric vehicles. Simulations show it can approach model predictive control performance while substantially reducing computational requirements and operating costs compared with conventional rule-based control.
Solar-powered aeroponic system for off-grid vertical farming
Researchers in Mexico have developed Totem, an open-source, solar-powered vertical aeroponic system designed for low-cost, off-grid food production. The $719 prototype uses a 50 W PV module and supported two basil harvests during a 55-day cultivation trial.
Shower wastewater heat pump achieves year-round COP of up to 4.1
Chinese researchers tested a hybrid shower wastewater- and air-source heat pump at university dormitories, recording a stable monthly COP of 3.4 to 4.1 over one year.
The system cut annual carbon dioxide emissions by up to 77.77% and offered lower life-cycle costs than conventional boilers under typical market conditions.
Advertisement