Frontiers on Solar Thermal Harvesting Technology

Dear Colleagues,

An increase in greenhouse gas emissions and energy shortages are the main issues which attract the attention of energy policy analysts. Fossil fuels are currently the primary energy source for the power generation, industries and residential buildings. Uncertainty associated with the long-term availability and supply of fossil fuels can be addressed by using available green alternatives, solar energy is the most competitive candidate because it is sustainable and stable source of energy. In fact, solar thermal energy has the potential to generate renewable energy in gigawatts and continued to lead capacity expansion, which equates to millions of tons of oil saved and millions of tons of CO2 emissions avoided. Considering this scenario, solar thermal technologies are an attractive option in a wide range of applications: solar heating and cooling, drying, solar thermal electricity and fuel production and medium- and high-temperature thermal storage. Despite the aforementioned facts, efficient solar thermal harvesting from intermittent renewable sources, and storing it for future usage are the existing challenges. In particular, cost, high and medium temperature performance barriers must be removed to push solar thermal technology to the next level.

This Special Issue entitled “Frontiers on Solar Thermal Harvesting Technology” will pull together application of novel materials, advanced coolants, and optimized design of components to optimize solar thermal harvesting technology from the bottom up via experimental, theoretical, and computational techniques. The Special Issue assumes timely and successful rapid deployment of all recent solar thermal energy technologies. We are particularly interested in papers that are pushing further the envelope of applications and successful integration and hybridization of Solar Thermal harvesting in areas like mining, desalination, hydrogen production and nuclear power. This issue will feature results that emphasize innovation, the potential for “disruption” and partial-to-fully market ready, including the following:

• Design and analyses in support of deployment, regulation, and tangible impact in modern society;
• Aspects of the application of Solar Thermal harvesting system for hydrogen production and developments of large-scale mobility;
• Aspects of the applications of Solar Thermal harvesting and interface with other energy or industrial processes;
• Aspects of investment, regulatory approval or hinders, siting, deployment and construction costs;
• Aspects of the role of Solar Thermal harvesting in sustainability and impact on climate change.
• We welcome and encourage authors to address one or more of these interrelated aspects, which will be of value to readers.

Prof. Dr. Muhammad Imtiaz Hussain
Prof. Dr. Filippo Genco
Prof. Dr. Anjum Munir
Dr. Oussama Rejeb
Guest Editors

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