A New Approach to Assessing Photovoltaic Module Enhancers for Optimal Lifespan, Area and Cost Efficiency

A comprehensive assessment of photovoltaic (PV) enhancement technologies requires a metric that incorporates not only performance gains but also economic viability and system compatibility. This paper introduces the Lifespan-, Surface-area-, and Cost-Adjusted Effectiveness factor (F_LSCAE), a novel multi-dimensional indicator designed to evaluate the overall effectiveness of PV enhancers—such as passive and active coolers—by jointly accounting for lifespan alignment, spatial integration, and cost-to-performance trade-offs. Unlike conventional performance metrics, F_LSCAE captures the interdependence between technical and economic parameters by integrating the enhancer’s contribution to net power output, its operational lifespan relative to the PV module, its physical area relative to the PV surface, and the manufacturing cost in relation to the cost per watt of PV power. A series of analytical case studies were conducted involving four PV cooler patterns with varying power outputs, costs, sizes, and lifespans. The findings demonstrate that F_LSCAE is highly sensitive to power enhancement and cost fluctuations, and it penalizes oversizing or lifespan mismatches. Furthermore, the minimum threshold effectiveness (F_LSCAE,min), derived from the ratio of actual to maximum PV output under standard test conditions, provides a robust baseline for determining system viability. The proposed metric proves to be a reliable and scalable tool for the comparative evaluation of PV enhancement strategies. It enables stakeholders to make informed decisions about design optimization, financial planning, and policy formulation. F_LSCAE serves as a critical advancement in PV performance analysis, offering a unified framework to assess not only energy gain but also the practicality and sustainability of PV enhancement technologies.