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Solar Energy Conversion and Storage Technologies

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "A2: Solar Energy and Photovoltaic Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 May 2026 | Viewed by 303

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Applied Physics and IUFFYM, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
Interests: concentrated solar thermal; thermal energy storage; thermodynamic cycles

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Applied Physics and IUFFYM, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
Interests: thermal energy storage; thermodynamic optimization; multiobjective optimization

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The transition to a sustainable energy future greatly depends on advancing technologies for efficiently converting and storing solar energy. As demand for renewable energy systems grows, innovations in materials, devices, and processes are crucial for overcoming current technical and economic challenges. To foster the exchange of cutting-edge research and innovative solutions, we announce the Special Issue "Solar Energy Conversion and Storage Technologies" in the Solar Energy and Photovoltaic Systems Section of Energies.

This Special Issue will gather original research articles, comprehensive reviews, and novel case studies that address the latest developments and emerging trends in the field. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Advanced photovoltaic technologies and high-efficiency solar cells;
  • Thermal energy storage systems integrated with solar energy;
  • Hybrid solar energy systems combining multiple storage and conversion technologies;
  • Modeling, simulation, and optimization of solar energy conversion and storage processes;
  • Materials development for improved solar harvesting and thermal energy storage;
  • Passive and active cooling techniques for photovoltaic modules;
  • Solar-driven energy systems for industrial, residential, and mobility applications;
  • Life-cycle analysis, techno-economic assessment, and performance evaluation of solar systems;
  • Integration of solar energy storage into smart grids and decentralized energy networks.

We particularly welcome interdisciplinary works that connect fundamental research in thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, material science, and system optimization with practical applications. Contributions that explore innovative strategies for enhancing energy efficiency, durability, and scalability are also particularly encouraged.

Dr. Rosa Pilar Merchán Corral
Dr. Julián González Ayala
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • solar energy conversion
  • thermal energy storage
  • photovoltaic systems
  • concentrated solar thermal
  • hybrid renewable energy systems
  • energy optimization and sustainability
  • multiple energy storage

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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25 pages, 7353 KB  
Article
Parametric Optimization of RBC-PTES System: Impact on Round-Trip Efficiency and LCOS
by Paul Tafur-Escanta, Franco Cabrera-Ortega, Robert Valencia-Chapi, Luis Garzón-Pérez, Solimar Andrade-Terán and Javier Muñoz-Antón
Energies 2025, 18(24), 6594; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18246594 - 17 Dec 2025
Abstract
This study presents a comprehensive thermo-economic evaluation of a pumped thermal energy storage (PTES) system based on a supercritical carbon dioxide (s-CO2) recompression Brayton cycle (RBC). A multiparametric analysis was conducted through systematic parameterization of key design variables, including mass fractions [...] Read more.
This study presents a comprehensive thermo-economic evaluation of a pumped thermal energy storage (PTES) system based on a supercritical carbon dioxide (s-CO2) recompression Brayton cycle (RBC). A multiparametric analysis was conducted through systematic parameterization of key design variables, including mass fractions directed to the recompressor during charging and to the high-pressure turbine during discharging, as well as compressor inlet pressure and temperature and turbine inlet temperature. Performance optimization focused on two main indicators: round-trip efficiency (ηRT) and levelized cost of storage (LCOS), enabling identification of trade-offs between thermodynamic and economic performance. Results show that minimizing LCOS yields 148.72 $/MWh with an ηRT of 57.1%, whereas maximizing efficiency achieves 61.5% at an LCOS of 158.4 $/MWh. Exergy destruction analysis highlights the strategic role of the main compressor and thermal storage tanks in overall irreversibility distribution. These findings confirm the technical feasibility of the s-CO2 recompression Brayton cycle as a competitive solution for long-duration thermal energy storage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Energy Conversion and Storage Technologies)
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Review

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37 pages, 46714 KB  
Review
Parabolic Dish Collectors for Concentrated Solar Power: A Comprehensive Review on Their Subsystems and Overall Integration
by Judit García-Ferrero, Rosa Pilar Merchán Corral, Jesús Alberto Moctezuma-Hernández, David Pérez-Gallego, Simin Anvari, Julian González-Ayala, Antonio Calvo-Hernández, José Miguel Mateos Roco, María Jesús Santos and Alejandro Medina
Energies 2025, 18(24), 6596; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18246596 - 17 Dec 2025
Abstract
Parabolic dish collectors (PDCs) focus solar radiation onto a small area, minimizing the heat-loss area of the solar receiver and improving the heating of the working fluid. This fluid usually drives a Stirling-like or micro-gas turbine (Brayton-like) power generator. PDCs, initially intended for [...] Read more.
Parabolic dish collectors (PDCs) focus solar radiation onto a small area, minimizing the heat-loss area of the solar receiver and improving the heating of the working fluid. This fluid usually drives a Stirling-like or micro-gas turbine (Brayton-like) power generator. PDCs, initially intended for small-capacity applications, are well-suited for electricity and heat generation in remote rural areas, working alone and/or as parabolic dish arrays. PDCs have received considerable attention among solar thermal collectors due to their high concentration ratios and the high temperatures they achieve. However, nowadays, they are the least developed and least commissioned among concentrated solar power configurations, lacking a well-established technology. This review aims to compile the evolution of research on PDCs over recent years from a global perspective and is mainly focused on the subsystems constituting a PDC plant, their integration, and overall system optimisation, thereby addressing a gap in the current literature. Methodological tools used in the field are comprehensively revised, and recent related projects are summarized. Some innovative and promising applications are also highlighted. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Energy Conversion and Storage Technologies)
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