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Meeting the increasing global demand for energy has been a significant challenge for the world, and photovoltaic (PV) energy has made tremendous progress in recent years. However, designing and implementing solar systems still poses significant challenges due to the conversion of a substantial fraction from the solar irradiation that strikes photovoltaic cells to heat. Maintaining a consistent temperature is crucial for solar photovoltaics to achieve maximum efficiency, especially in areas with extremely high average annual temperatures. Several PV module cooling methods, such as using water or air, are used for thermal regulation, often cycled by pumps, fans, and blowers. Unfortunately, these simple PV cooling technologies have a few limitations, including poor heat dissipation in passive mode and a need for external power sources, which lower system efficiency and increase repair and maintenance costs. However, the combination of photovoltaic modules with phase change materials (PCMs) can effectively lower solar cell temperatures and increase their output power without requiring an external power source. In this study, we evaluated the use of two locally manufactured PCMs, Paraffin wax and Petroleum jelly (Vaseline), which are readily available in the Iraqi market at low costs. Our outdoor experiment aimed to examine the effects of a mixture of these PCMs on the temperature and electrical performance of PV panels. The findings reveal that the mixed PCM increased the electrical efficiency of the PV panel by up to 13.1% and reduced its temperature by 6.1 °C, and the average temperature by 5.29 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of photovoltaic (PV) energy has made great advances in recent years toward satisfying the world's increasing energy demand. Since a large fraction of the solar radiation that falls on photovoltaic cells is converted to heat, there are still significant obstacles to overcome in the design and installation of solar systems. Especially in regions where the average annual temperature is extremely high, it is crucial to maintain a constant temperature for the solar photovoltaics to maximize their effectiveness. Findings indicate that phase change materials (PCMs) have a strong potential for cooling solar cells. In this work, we assess a number of previous studies related to the use of phase change material in photovoltaic modules for temperature control and power increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]