New Trends in Photovoltaic Power System

Dear Colleagues,

Photovoltaic (PV) systems have seen significant growth in global energy production over the past decades. Actual projections suggest it could exceed 10% of global electricity generation by 2030. Moreover, the PV system industry is evolving rapidly with new technologies, strategies, and innovations aimed at improving efficiency, reducing costs, and making solar energy more sustainable. Some key trends shaping the future of PV systems include the following:

-Bifacial solar panels, perovskite solar cells, and thin-film materials are emerging technologies that can help improve energy yield from the same surface area, making PV systems more efficient and cost-effective and allowing for integration into more diverse applications. 
-PV modules with transparent and flexible design are also an interesting emerging trend. These PV modules are integrated into windows, facades, and other surfaces without disrupting the esthetics or function of buildings. Their application in building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) is an interesting option in urban environments where rooftop space may be limited. 
-Solar tracking systems can improve the energy output of PV systems by adjusting the angle of PV modules to follow the sun’s path, maximizing exposure and efficiency and making them viable for large-scale solar farms.
-In the field of energy storage integration and smart grids, energy storage systems (ESSs) allow excess PV energy to be stored for use when sunlight is not available. The EES solutions increase the self-consumption, reduce reliance on the grid, and support the transition to renewable energy in areas with unstable or inadequate electricity infrastructure.
-PV and artificial intelligence (AI) can be used for the predictive maintenance and optimization of the performance of PV systems. This includes predictive algorithms that can detect issues before they cause significant downtime and real-time performance optimization including degradation monitoring.
-Hybrid solar systems combine PV with other forms of renewable energy, like wind, biomass, or with traditional power sources such as natural gas generators to improve reliability and energy production.
-Agri-Voltaics integrates PV generation with agricultural practices, allowing farmers to grow crops under or between PV modules. The modules provide shade and reduce water evaporation, while still generating power, helping to meet global food and energy demands in a sustainable way.
-Floating photovoltaics deals with PV modules that are mounted on floating platforms and promise high yields. Their proximity to water could support the cooling of solar cells, thus enabling them to work efficiently even in hot weather conditions.

As these trends continue to evolve, the PV sector will play a central role in meeting the world’s growing energy demands in a sustainable manner. This Special Issue aims to collect original research or review articles on new trends in PV power systems from an applied point of view.

Prof. Dr. Santiago Silvestre
Prof. Dr. Aissa Chouder
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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.

• emerging PV technologies
• artificial intelligence (AI)
• energy storage systems (ESS)
• smart grids
• agri-photovoltaics
• floating PV

Title: PV Systems with Non-Conventional Orientations: Increasing Self-Consumption and Reducing the Impact on the Grid
Authors: Catalina Rus Casas; C. Gilabert-Torres; F. J. Muñoz-Rodríguez
Affiliation: Universidad de Jaén, Spain
Abstract: Traditionally, photovoltaic (PV) systems have been designed to maximize total energy production, which often fails to align with the consumption profiles of buildings. This paper introduces an innovative methodology for designing PV systems for buildings, emphasizing the optimization of self-consumption by utilizing modules with varying orientations. Our approach explores the integration of PV systems on facades and roofs, combining modules with different orientations to align energy generation with the building's demand. The results demonstrate that incorporating diverse orientations not only enhances self-consumption but also significantly reduces the energy exported to the grid. This leads to improved system efficiency, reduced grid dependency, and mitigated grid impact. Additionally, the economic and environmental benefits of this strategy are analyzed, underscoring its potential to support the development of nearly zero-energy buildings while contributing to a more sustainable electricity grid. This groundbreaking approach not only optimizes PV generation but also addresses critical challenges associated with integrating renewable energy into urban environments.