# Hybrid Perovskite‐Photovoltaic and Solar‐Thermal Harvesting

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a hybrid solar system that combines photovoltaic and thermal energy harvesting to efficiently use the full solar spectrum.

## Contribution

The novel hybrid system uses semi-transparent perovskite solar modules to achieve high exergy efficiency by combining electricity and heat generation.

## Key findings

- The prototype achieves 14.3% photovoltaic efficiency and directs 55% of low-energy photons to a thermal collector.
- The system reaches an overall exergy efficiency of ≈30%, with potential to exceed 40% using higher-efficiency perovskite modules.
- High-temperature heat generation at 900°C is modeled for large-scale concentrators using low-energy photons.

## Abstract

Single‐junction photovoltaics have inherent limitations as low‐energy photons below bandgap cannot generate electrical power, wasting solar energy. Here, a hybrid solar energy harvesting concept is presented. The prototype's core component consists of a semi‐transparent perovskite solar module that converts high‐energy solar photons into electrical power at 14.3% efficiency, while directing ≈55% of the low‐energy photons below bandgap to a solar‐thermal collector. The prototype can achieve an overall exergy efficiency of ≈30.0%, with exergy referring to the usefulness of transformed solar energy and its potential to do work. This high efficiency comes from 1) photovoltaic conversion, 2) low‐temperature heat generation (60 °C) from photovoltaic thermalization losses, and 3) high‐temperature heat generation (900 °C) from the low‐energy photons in a modeled large‐scale high‐concentration‐ratio solar concentrator. The exergy efficiency can advance to >40% if using a record‐efficiency perovskite photovoltaic. Overall, this study provides a high‐efficiency solution for harvesting the full solar spectrum.

This study presents a hybrid solar energy harvesting concept that integrates a semi‐transparent perovskite solar module with a thermal collector. High‐energy photons generate electricity at 14.3% efficiency, while ≈55% of low‐energy photons provide heat. The system achieves ≈30% exergy efficiency, with modeling indicating >40% potential, offering a high‐efficiency route for full‐spectrum solar utilization.