A review on the thermal regulation techniques for non integrated flat PV modules mounted on building top

Flat solar photovoltaic (PV) modules are widely being used in domestic and industrial buildings for meeting the electric power demands. Higher operating temperatures of these PV modules result in lower electrical power yield and conversion efficiency. Hence, to counteract the drawback of reduced power output, an active or passive cooling system is often required for controlling the temperature of PV module during its operation. The objective of this article is to provide a review of the literature on various thermal regulation techniques used to control the temperature of the PV panel. The mechanism of cooling and the challenges involved in the construction of various cooling techniques are also reported.