PHOTOVOLTAIC VS SOLAR THERMAL COOLING: A COMPARISON FOR EUROPE

摘要

This paper gives an outlook on the current and possible future situation of solar cooling in Europe. A competitive technology to solar thermal cooling is photovoltaic-based cooling using photovoltaic (PV) panels to generate electricity connected to a conventional air-conditioner. So far, this technology has been far too expensive due to the high cost for PV panels. Recent price drops of PV panels however have changed this and lead to the investigation presented in the following. Economics are discussed using a comparison of photovoltaic vapour-compression cooling against solar thermal cooling with an absorption chiller and a grid-connected reference chiller. A sensitivity analysis is presented including electricity price and PV panel cost. It was found that at current conditions ({IUR}0.12/kWh_(el)) the PV-based cooling (PVS) has a lower cost than the solar thermal cooling system (STAC). The PVS system however has a higher cost than the REF system until the electricity price reaches {IUR} 0.21/kWh_(el), then the PVS system has lower lifetime cost. Secondly, a solar thermal cooling system does not break even with a grid connected chiller until an electricity cost of {IUR}0.34/kWh_(el). Further, this paper discusses the current potential of energy and greenhouse gas savings by using alternative solar air-conditioning technologies. Market barriers and opportunities for solar driven air-conditioning systems in Europe are presented.