temperature and PV output

[Rick Wesley]

Hello
Was wondering if using thermoelectric cooling of PV panels would gain more power than consumed by cooling them down.

[Joe Blake]

I suspect it will depend on the type of panels you're using. Some of the later ones are much less susceptible to overheating than older ones. Just as a "quick and dirty" test, why not wait until the panels are good and hot, measure the output, then hose them down with water and see what (if any) difference that makes.

Depending on other factors (cost, position, accessibility etc) have you considered "double glazing" them, to prevent the heat getting to them in the first place? (If I remember my schoolboy physics correctly, two sheets of glass with a space between them will let light through, but not heat, but I'll stand corrected on that.)



Joe