Advances in Solar Technologies, 2nd Edition

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

The global shift towards sustainable energy has significantly accelerated advancements in solar technologies, positioning them as crucial renewable solutions to meet the world's increasing energy demands and environmental challenges. This Topic, "Advances in Solar Technologies, 2nd Edition", aims to showcase pioneering research, emerging trends, and groundbreaking developments in the solar energy sector. We encourage researchers to provide a comprehensive overview of innovative ideas, novel design concepts, technological advancements, material and device optimization, system integration, and performance enhancement through the use of simulation tools and experimental analysis with the goal of developing solar technologies. This Topic also covers interdisciplinary research areas such as solar drying, space heating and cooling, dehumidification, desalination, refrigeration, thermal and electrical storage, nano-materials, artificial intelligence applications in solar energy, and policies driving the adoption of solar technologies. By presenting the latest research, this Topic aims to provide readers with fresh insights and methods for developing next-generation practical solar technology applications.

We encourage submissions of both original research and review articles. Related topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Advances in solar photovoltaic technologies;
• Advances in solar thermal systems;
• Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) and thermal energy storage;
• Thermochemical reactors for solar energy conversion;
• Radiative properties of solar materials and selective coatings;
• High-Efficiency and Next-Generation Solar Cells;
• Novel materials and devices for solar technologies;
• Application of nano-fluid and nano-materials;
• Hybrid solar technologies;
• Floating and Space-Based Solar Technologies;
• Solar-based heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems;
• Energy storage and integration;
• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Solar Energy;
• Direct and indirect solar drying systems;
• Solar distillation and desalination;
• Solar cooking system;
• Thermodynamic and heat transfer analysis;
• Modelling and simulations for solar-based systems;
• Exergy analysis of solar energy technologies;
• Techno-economic analysis;
• Environmental and Sustainability Aspects.

Prof. Dr. Jayanta Deb Mondol
Prof. Dr. Annamaria Buonomano
Dr. Biplab Das
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Energies energies	3.9	8.3	2008	16.7 Days	CHF 2600
Entropy entropy	2.1	4.9	1999	20.9 Days	CHF 2600
Optics optics	1.8	2.6	2020	19.6 Days	CHF 1400
Photonics photonics	2.1	3.9	2014	13.9 Days	CHF 2400
Solar solar	5.1	7.2	2021	15.5 Days	CHF 1200
Technologies technologies	5.2	6.7	2013	17 Days	CHF 1800

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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All Energies Entropy Photonics Technologies Optics Solar

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15 pages, 2389 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Design and Engineering Application of Flat-Bed Laminator for Photovoltaic Modules

by Yu Jin, Pengju Duan and Boda Song

Solar 2026, 6(3), 29; https://doi.org/10.3390/solar6030029 - 24 May 2026

Viewed by 582

Abstract

Against the backdrop of the global energy transition and China’s dual-carbon strategy, the photovoltaic (PV) industry is entering a new stage of large-scale, intensive development, where efficiency improvement and cost control in module encapsulation have become the core of industrial competition. To address [...] Read more.

Against the backdrop of the global energy transition and China’s dual-carbon strategy, the photovoltaic (PV) industry is entering a new stage of large-scale, intensive development, where efficiency improvement and cost control in module encapsulation have become the core of industrial competition. To address the drawbacks of traditional silicone plate laminators—frequent consumable replacement, high maintenance costs, and poor adaptability to dual-glass module encapsulation—this paper proposes a flat-plate laminator technical scheme. By replacing flexible silicone plates with rigid pressure plates and optimizing pressure transmission paths and sealing structures, we achieved efficient, low-cost lamination. We first compared the working principles of flat-plate and silicone plate laminators, completed the structural design of five core modules with an optimized rigid platen and annular silicone sealing system, developed a modular retrofitting scheme for existing equipment, and verified performance via engineering tests. Tests show that the retrofitted equipment achieves a module thickness deviation ≤ ±0.06 mm, a product yield of 99.88%, annual cost savings of USD 342,000 per unit, and a 0.61-year investment payback period. This work provides theoretical support and an engineering reference for technical innovation in PV module encapsulation equipment, with significant promotion and application value. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Solar Technologies, 2nd Edition)

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23 pages, 8507 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Design and Performance Validation of a Multi-Layer Laminator for Photovoltaic Modules

by Pengju Duan, Yu Jin and Boda Song

Solar 2026, 6(3), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/solar6030020 - 25 Apr 2026

Viewed by 500

Abstract

To address the demands of large-scale production in the photovoltaic industry for laminators with a small footprint, low energy consumption, and high encapsulation quality, this paper presents research on the structural design, simulation optimization, and performance validation of a multi-layer laminator for photovoltaic [...] Read more.

To address the demands of large-scale production in the photovoltaic industry for laminators with a small footprint, low energy consumption, and high encapsulation quality, this paper presents research on the structural design, simulation optimization, and performance validation of a multi-layer laminator for photovoltaic modules. Different from existing single-layer or double-layer structures, this paper proposes for the first time an eight-layer, three-stage overall scheme, develops modular lamination units, completes the design of core systems, and achieves multi-chamber coordination. Simulation validation was conducted on the temperature uniformity of the heating plates and the thermo-mechanical coupling under vacuum conditions. A prototype, model HCDL2743DSiT, was developed and subjected to a 30-day production trial. The results show that the equipment reaches a vacuum degree of 92 Pa within 100 s and drops to 38 Pa within 120 s; the temperature uniformity error of the heating plates is ±1.3 °C; the maximum positioning deviation of the transmission is ±2.8 mm. All core indicators meet the design requirements, and the module encapsulation pass rate reaches 99.9%. At the same production rate, the footprint is reduced by approximately 72% compared with that of a traditional double-layer laminator, achieving dual optimization of space utilization and energy consumption and providing technical equipment support for the high-efficiency encapsulation of photovoltaic modules. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Solar Technologies, 2nd Edition)

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18 pages, 8734 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Carbon-Nanotube-Integrated Multilayer Titanium Dioxide/Tin Dioxide Photoanodes for Enhanced Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Performance

by Cheng-Ting Han and Hsin-Mei Lin

Solar 2026, 6(3), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/solar6030019 - 23 Apr 2026

Viewed by 384

Abstract

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) remain attractive as low-cost photovoltaic devices; however, their practical efficiency is still constrained by electron-transport losses, interfacial recombination, and incomplete light harvesting in conventional titanium dioxide (TiO₂) photoanodes. The effects of TiO₂ film thickness, multi-walled carbon [...] Read more.

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) remain attractive as low-cost photovoltaic devices; however, their practical efficiency is still constrained by electron-transport losses, interfacial recombination, and incomplete light harvesting in conventional titanium dioxide (TiO₂) photoanodes. The effects of TiO₂ film thickness, multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) incorporation, and multilayer oxide interface engineering on DSSC performance were examined. Degussa P25-TiO₂ photoanodes were first optimized with respect to thickness, after which controlled MWCNT loadings and sequential compact sol–gel TiO₂ and tin dioxide (SnO₂) sublayers were introduced. The optimum pristine P25-TiO₂ photoanode thickness was 9.11 μm, yielding an open-circuit voltage of 0.74 ± 0.01 V, a short-circuit current density of 14.10 ± 0.40 mA/cm², a fill factor of 56.24 ± 1.00%, and a power-conversion efficiency of 5.93 ± 0.20%. The incorporation of 0.025 wt% MWCNTs increased the efficiency to 6.04 ± 0.20%, corresponding to an absolute gain of 0.11 percentage points. The best performance was obtained with the sol–gel SnO₂/sol–gel TiO₂/P25-CNT multilayer photoanode, which delivered 0.74 ± 0.02 V, 16.22 ± 0.40 mA/cm², 57.59 ± 1.00%, and 6.89 ± 0.30%, respectively. FE-SEM, EIS, XRD, Heated Ultrasonic Cleaner and UV–visible analyses indicate that the multilayer architecture preserves porosity, enhances light harvesting, and suppresses interfacial recombination, while the CNT network facilitates charge transport. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Solar Technologies, 2nd Edition)

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27 pages, 6002 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Heliostat Field Layout Optimization Considering Power Generation and Layout Parameters

by Xiao Zhou, Zekang Dou, Jialin Sun, Chunyan Ma, Cheng Cui, Jingxue Guo and Yuchen Wang

Energies 2026, 19(8), 1984; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19081984 - 20 Apr 2026

Viewed by 546

Abstract

To explicitly illustrate the relationship between heliostat field optimization and power generation, a coupled model was established in Simulink. By optimizing the geometric layout of the heliostat field, the solar heat collection efficiency can be significantly improved, thereby increasing the thermal input to [...] Read more.

To explicitly illustrate the relationship between heliostat field optimization and power generation, a coupled model was established in Simulink. By optimizing the geometric layout of the heliostat field, the solar heat collection efficiency can be significantly improved, thereby increasing the thermal input to the system. The optimized heliostat field design can convert solar energy into thermal energy more efficiently and transfer it to the steam generator through the molten salt loop, thereby driving power generation in the Rankine cycle. In this process, the Rankine cycle is responsible for converting the thermal energy supplied by the molten salt loop into mechanical work and ultimately into electrical power output. At the same time, real meteorological data from a commercial heliostat field were introduced, and annual power generation simulations demonstrated that the integrated modeling of the heliostat field, thermal storage, and power block based on actual meteorological boundary conditions and system parameters can effectively reflect the power generation performance of a commercial tower solar thermal power plant. Meanwhile, research on heliostat field optimization should further evolve from identifying general patterns toward parameter design and overall system performance improvement. For molten-salt tower solar thermal power plants, key design variables such as receiver tower height, receiver dimensions, heliostat dimensions, and heliostat field spacing parameters affect not only the annual average optical efficiency of the heliostat field and the thermal power output of the receiver, but also the annual power generation of the entire plant. By integrating SOLARPILOT 1.5.2 and SAM 2025.4.16, the design variables were systematically analyzed to investigate their effects on the annual average optical efficiency of the heliostat field, the number of heliostats, the receiver output power, and the annual power generation, and the reasonable value ranges of the heliostat field parameters were determined accordingly. The established Rankine cycle power block model was then coupled with the parameter optimization results to carry out a secondary optimization of the initial heliostat field. Through the above study, the aim is to realize a shift from single-objective geometric optimization of the heliostat field to comprehensive optimization oriented toward annual plant power generation performance and scenario adaptability, thereby providing a basis for scheme design and parameter selection of molten-salt tower solar thermal power plants. For external validation, the annual generation predicted for the Delingha 50 MW commercial plant was 142.15 GWh, corresponding to a relative deviation of 2.64% from the published design value of 146 GWh. This indicates that the coupled framework can reasonably capture the integrated response of the heliostat field, thermal storage system, and power block at the plant level. The model is therefore suitable for generation-oriented parameter screening and preliminary design of tower molten-salt CSP plants, while detailed component-level transient design still requires higher-fidelity engineering models. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Solar Technologies, 2nd Edition)

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24 pages, 4737 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Numerical Study of a Parabolically Deformed Beam for Solar Concentration Applications

by Rodolfo Y. Salas-Bernal, Pablo Sosa-Flores, Armando Piña-Ortiz, Carlos A. Pérez-Rábago, Agustín Brau-Ávila, Rafael E. Cabanillas-López and Ricardo A. Pérez-Enciso

Solar 2026, 6(1), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/solar6010011 - 12 Feb 2026

Viewed by 1071

Abstract

Recent advances in design, manufacturing and development techniques have been very relevant to making solar collectors feasible for production in a variety of applications. In the field of concentrated solar thermal technologies, several techniques have been developed to achieve high levels of radiation [...] Read more.

Recent advances in design, manufacturing and development techniques have been very relevant to making solar collectors feasible for production in a variety of applications. In the field of concentrated solar thermal technologies, several techniques have been developed to achieve high levels of radiation concentration. The generation of concave curvature geometry through the polishing of the reflective surface or through specialized machining is one of the most common methods. However, the way in which these bends are obtained can vary significantly, depending on the required quality of optical concentration for the application. This study presents a simple parametric technique to achieve a parabolic curvature for solar concentration applications. To do this, a controlled bending deformation was applied to a metal hollow profile beam supported by a pin and roller at each of the ends, and only two symmetric point loads were applied to generate a bending moment to induce a bending of a curved shape. It was found that, for a given load configuration, a parabolic geometry was generated along a partial center section of the beam. The analysis carried out showed that under the load configuration analyzed, up to 66% of the beam length adopted a fully parabolic geometry. The technique proposed in this work allows for the creation of parabolas with variable focal distances, offering versatility in the design of solar concentrating systems. It also allows corrective adjustments to be made during the assembly of the complete solar concentrator system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Solar Technologies, 2nd Edition)

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23 pages, 6630 KB  

Open AccessReview

Review of the Cumulative Ecological Effects of Utility-Scale Photovoltaic Power Generation

by Bo Yuan, Yuan Li, Jiachao Li, Mengjing Guo, Miaojie Li and Shuguang Xie

Solar 2026, 6(1), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/solar6010009 - 3 Feb 2026

Viewed by 2063

Abstract

CPVG (Utility-scale photovoltaic generation) is expanding rapidly worldwide, yet its cumulative ecological effects remain insufficiently quantified. This review synthesizes current evidence to clarify how CPVG influences ecosystems through linked mechanisms of energy redistribution, biogeochemical cycling disturbance, and ecological responses. CPVG alters surface radiation [...] Read more.

CPVG (Utility-scale photovoltaic generation) is expanding rapidly worldwide, yet its cumulative ecological effects remain insufficiently quantified. This review synthesizes current evidence to clarify how CPVG influences ecosystems through linked mechanisms of energy redistribution, biogeochemical cycling disturbance, and ecological responses. CPVG alters surface radiation balance, modifies microclimate, and disrupts carbon–nitrogen–water fluxes, thereby driving vegetation shifts, soil degradation, and biodiversity decline. These impacts accumulate across temporal scales—from short-term construction disturbances to long-term operational feedbacks—and propagate spatially from local to regional and watershed levels. Ecological outcomes differ substantially among deserts, grasslands, and agroecosystems due to contrasting resilience and limiting factors. Based on these mechanisms, we propose a multi-scale cumulative impact assessment framework integrating indicator development, multi-source monitoring, coupled modelling, and ecological risk tiering. A full-chain mitigation pathway is further outlined, emphasizing optimized siting, disturbance reduction, adaptive management, and targeted restoration. This study provides a systematic foundation for evaluating and regulating CPVG’s cumulative ecological impacts, supporting more sustainable solar deployment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Solar Technologies, 2nd Edition)

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17 pages, 3012 KB  

Open AccessArticle

A Comparative Study of High-Efficiency Lead-Free Cs₃Bi₂X₉ (X = Cl, Br, I)-Based Solar Cells

by Mahdi Alzubaidi, Syed Abdul Moiz, Ahmed N. M. Alahmadi and Mohammed Saleh Alshaikh

Technologies 2025, 13(12), 562; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies13120562 - 2 Dec 2025

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1702

Abstract

Lead halide-based perovskite solar cells have gained significant attention from academia and the photovoltaic industry due to their exceptional optical and electrical characteristics. The primary problem with Pb-based perovskite pertains to its toxicity and solubility in water within the external environment. These concerns [...] Read more.

Lead halide-based perovskite solar cells have gained significant attention from academia and the photovoltaic industry due to their exceptional optical and electrical characteristics. The primary problem with Pb-based perovskite pertains to its toxicity and solubility in water within the external environment. These concerns regarding hazards to the environment are constraining the application of lead-based perovskite in both consumer and industrial contexts. To offer a viable alternative to lead-based hazardous perovskite solar cells, we examined an inverted (p-i-n) perovskite structure with three distinct absorber layers based on cesium bismuth halides (Cs₃Bi₂I₉, Cs₃Bi₂Cl₉, Cs₃Bi₂Br₉) and conducted a comparative analysis utilizing SCAPS-1D software (version 3.3.08). The comparison analysis of our design against starting parameters indicated that the optimal power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 10.01% was recorded for Cs₃Bi₂I₉, 7.56% for Cs₃Bi₂Br₉, and 4.34% for Cs₃Bi₂Cl₉. Following careful optimization of the thickness of charge-transport layers (CTLs), doping concentrations of CTLs, and all three absorber layers, the overall efficiencies of the three inverted structures were enhanced from 10.01% to 14.08% for Cs₃Bi₂I₉, from 4.34% to 5.28% for Cs3Bi2Cl9, and from 7.56% to 11.05% for Cs₃Bi₂Br₉, respectively. The other performance enhancement, open-circuit voltage, increased from 1.08 V to 1.37 V for Cs₃Bi₂I₉, from 1.26 V to 1.47 V for Cs₃Bi₂Cl₉, and from 1.20 V to 1.47 V for Cs₃Bi₂Br₉. This comparative analysis of proposed perovskite devices demonstrates that Cs₃Bi₂X-based perovskite devices possess significant potential to replace conventional hazardous solar cells in the renewable and clean energy sectors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Solar Technologies, 2nd Edition)

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30 pages, 7540 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Development and Verification of a Transient Analysis Tool for Solar Power Tower System with sCO₂ Brayton Cycle

by Chenxu Xu, Jichen Zou, Gang Wang and Chuntian Gao

Energies 2025, 18(21), 5749; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18215749 - 31 Oct 2025

Viewed by 815

Abstract

Supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO₂) Brayton cycle is a promising technology for concentrating solar power systems. However, existing studies predominantly rely on steady-state or quasi-steady-state assumptions, thereby neglecting transient characteristics of fluid flow and heat transfer. This study develops a transient analysis [...] Read more.

Supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO₂) Brayton cycle is a promising technology for concentrating solar power systems. However, existing studies predominantly rely on steady-state or quasi-steady-state assumptions, thereby neglecting transient characteristics of fluid flow and heat transfer. This study develops a transient analysis program for solar power tower systems integrated with sCO₂ Brayton cycles using the finite difference method. The program comprises two interactive modules—a molten salt loop and a Brayton cycle module—coupled through an intermediate heat exchanger. For the Brayton cycle module, a fluid network model enabling a unified framework for the simultaneous solution of all governing equations is adopted. The SIMPLE algorithm and Gauss–Seidel iteration method are employed to solve the conservation equations. Following validation of key components and system performance, dynamic simulations under load and solar irradiance step disturbances are conducted. The results demonstrate that the program accurately captures transient behaviors and supports control strategy design and safety analysis for solar power tower systems with arbitrary sCO₂ Brayton cycle layouts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Solar Technologies, 2nd Edition)

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