Solar thermal energy conversion is gaining more attention among researchers due to the recent development in nanofluids and molten salt technology. Among various solar collectors, parabolic trough collector has received significant attention from researchers due to their operating temperature range (60-240 °C) feasible for power generation. Parabolic trough collector is currently having a higher number of installations compared to other concentrated solar power technology around the globe. Most of the conventional heat transfer fluid used in PTC has poor heat transfer and light to heat conversion properties. Therefore, it is advantageous to enhance the thermophysical properties of heat transfer fluid to improve the overall efficiency of the system. Well-engineered nano-enhanced heat transfer fluid is advantageous because a very low mass fraction of nanoparticles bring considerable enhancement in thermophysical properties. This paper focuses on the most recent advancement in heat transfer fluids, their preparation, and stability issues when doped with nanoparticles. Various heat transfer fluids currently used in parabolic trough collectors and the nano-enhanced heat transfer fluids having the properties better than conventional heat transfer fluids are compared and their preparation methods and properties are discussed.Enhancement of thermophysical properties of molten salts by doping nanoparticles and their enhancement in thermal stability at high temperature, the possibility of using mono and hybrid nanofluid, ionic liquids, gaseous heat transfer fluid, and vegetable oil as the heat transfer fluid in parabolic trough collectors are the key highlights of this review.

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The future of renewable energy lies in the efficiency of energy storage technology used for storing energy produced by the renewables. The sporadic nature of solar energy has a demand for energy storage and efficient storage materials and devices. Therefore, energy storage technologies are gaining a wide range of attention from researchers. This paper mainly focuses on the development of fatty acid/metal ion composite by incorporating sodium ions into the lauric acid to enhance its thermophysical properties. Lauric acid is doped with 0.2, 0.5, and 1 wt% of the sodium metal to form a fatty acid/metal ion composite. Fabrication of the composite without any sophisticated methods or materials is the advantage of the present work. DSC, TGA, thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and FTIR characterization have been conducted to understand the thermal and structural properties of the synthesized fatty acid/metal ion composite. Morphology of the composite was studied using scanning electron microscopy imaging to study the porous nature of the composite. Enthalpy of fusion of the composite was found to be ~ 153, ~ 157, and 161 J/g by adding 0.2, 0.5, and 1 wt% of sodium metal into lauric acid, due to which the enthalpy of phase change was found to be enhanced by 5.3, 7.9, and 10.6%, respectively, in comparison with the enthalpy of pure lauric acid. Besides, the composite exhibited a small reduction in melting point with the increase in wt% of sodium metal in the composite. FTIR spectra of the prepared composite showed that there is no reaction taking place between lauric acid and sodium metal, making it a more stable composite. TGA analysis revealed that the decomposition temperature was enhanced by 30% by the addition of sodium metal into lauric acid, making it shaped-stable and suitable for thermal energy storage application.

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Solar photovoltaic (PV) system is proven to be a future-proof type of power generation for growing economies. There are almost zero pollutants released, low maintenance cost with high reliability as the lifespan of a solar PV stretches up to 30 years, a well-sought alternative form of sustainable energy. Moreover, the electricity consumption in Taylor’s University (TU), Malaysia is very high, as a consequence, a huge fraction of the fund is used to settle an RM450,000 electricity bill on average annually. In this paper, the study focused on how to reduce electricity consumption in TU by proposing a design of a comprehensive solar PV system. PVSYST and Sketchup software are used to design and analyze the PV system. In the present study, a Grid-Connected Photovoltaic (GCPV) mounted on the available roof space of TU is investigated. Also, a detailed economic analysis that includes the payback period and annual savings achieved through the proposed PV installation is analyzed. Annual savings of RM 267,621.00 can be made upon utilizing the proposed idea. Besides that, TU would be able to recover the initial investment cost in approximately 8 years of payback period, proving that the implementation of a 433kWp of solar PV unit is a smart option to address the sustainable energy goals.

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The performance of the solar photovoltaic panels relies on its direction and tilt angle with respect to the horizontal to obtain better conversion efficiency. The tilt angle of the PV panel needs to be in proper location and position to obtain maximum power output from photovoltaics. The optimum tilt angle is generally calculated based on global, diffused, and direct radiation on the horizontal surface. This study focuses on the concept of the optimal tilt angle that improves the performance of the PV panel. The paper discusses the MATLAB mathematical modelling and experimental validation conducted at Nitte, India to determine the optimal tilt angle of PV panels of the region for maximum solar radiation. The investigation also includes the effect of three different types of reflectors on the PV panel for the obtained optimal tilt angle. The experimental results show that to get the optimum power output, the tilt angle needs to be changed every month. Hence monthly optimal tilt must be chosen for optimum power output. The results showed a PV panel with a focused mirror reflector produced higher power output compared to aluminum and stainless-steel reflectors.