A CFD analysis of photovoltaic panel cooling: a review

Saleem Raza; Ahsan Farooq; Muhammad Sohail Shehzad; Wajahat Hussain; Zafar Abbas; Ik Tae Im

doi:10.1007/s44189-025-00096-w

A CFD analysis of photovoltaic panel cooling: a review

Saleem Raza
, Ahsan Farooq
, Muhammad Sohail Shehzad
, Wajahat Hussain
, Zafar Abbas
, Ik Tae Im^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Mechanical Design Engineering

Jeonbuk National University
Mirpur University of Science and Technology
Beijing Institute of Technology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

Abstract

Increases in operating temperature significantly degrade the efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) panels, leading to reduced power output and limiting the wider adoption of solar energy technologies. This paper reviews recent developments in PV cooling strategies, with particular emphasis on studies that employ Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to analyze and enhance these approaches. The effectiveness of various active and passive cooling techniques—such as phase-change material (PCM) systems, water- and air-based cooling, and nanofluids—is compared. The review highlights that CFD has become a crucial tool for evaluating the influence of parameters such as coolant type, flow rate, film thickness, and environmental conditions on PV module temperature and performance. Key findings indicate that CFD-validated hybrid cooling strategies and the integration of advanced materials offer substantial potential for improving both efficiency and sustainability.

Original language	English
Article number	2
Journal	International Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration
Volume	34
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s44189-025-00096-w
State	Published - 2026.12

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Keywords

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
Phase change material (PCM)
Photovoltaic (PV) panel
Solar energy

Access to Document

10.1007/s44189-025-00096-w

Cite this

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title = "A CFD analysis of photovoltaic panel cooling: a review",

abstract = "Increases in operating temperature significantly degrade the efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) panels, leading to reduced power output and limiting the wider adoption of solar energy technologies. This paper reviews recent developments in PV cooling strategies, with particular emphasis on studies that employ Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to analyze and enhance these approaches. The effectiveness of various active and passive cooling techniques—such as phase-change material (PCM) systems, water- and air-based cooling, and nanofluids—is compared. The review highlights that CFD has become a crucial tool for evaluating the influence of parameters such as coolant type, flow rate, film thickness, and environmental conditions on PV module temperature and performance. Key findings indicate that CFD-validated hybrid cooling strategies and the integration of advanced materials offer substantial potential for improving both efficiency and sustainability.",

keywords = "Computational fluid dynamics (CFD), Phase change material (PCM), Photovoltaic (PV) panel, Solar energy",

author = "Saleem Raza and Ahsan Farooq and Shehzad, \{Muhammad Sohail\} and Wajahat Hussain and Zafar Abbas and Im, \{Ik Tae\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2026.",

year = "2026",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1007/s44189-025-00096-w",

language = "English",

volume = "34",

journal = "International Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration",

issn = "2010-1325",

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}

TY - JOUR

T1 - A CFD analysis of photovoltaic panel cooling

T2 - a review

AU - Raza, Saleem

AU - Farooq, Ahsan

AU - Shehzad, Muhammad Sohail

AU - Hussain, Wajahat

AU - Abbas, Zafar

AU - Im, Ik Tae

PY - 2026/12

Y1 - 2026/12

N2 - Increases in operating temperature significantly degrade the efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) panels, leading to reduced power output and limiting the wider adoption of solar energy technologies. This paper reviews recent developments in PV cooling strategies, with particular emphasis on studies that employ Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to analyze and enhance these approaches. The effectiveness of various active and passive cooling techniques—such as phase-change material (PCM) systems, water- and air-based cooling, and nanofluids—is compared. The review highlights that CFD has become a crucial tool for evaluating the influence of parameters such as coolant type, flow rate, film thickness, and environmental conditions on PV module temperature and performance. Key findings indicate that CFD-validated hybrid cooling strategies and the integration of advanced materials offer substantial potential for improving both efficiency and sustainability.

AB - Increases in operating temperature significantly degrade the efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) panels, leading to reduced power output and limiting the wider adoption of solar energy technologies. This paper reviews recent developments in PV cooling strategies, with particular emphasis on studies that employ Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to analyze and enhance these approaches. The effectiveness of various active and passive cooling techniques—such as phase-change material (PCM) systems, water- and air-based cooling, and nanofluids—is compared. The review highlights that CFD has become a crucial tool for evaluating the influence of parameters such as coolant type, flow rate, film thickness, and environmental conditions on PV module temperature and performance. Key findings indicate that CFD-validated hybrid cooling strategies and the integration of advanced materials offer substantial potential for improving both efficiency and sustainability.

KW - Computational fluid dynamics (CFD)

KW - Phase change material (PCM)

KW - Photovoltaic (PV) panel

KW - Solar energy

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105027149001

U2 - 10.1007/s44189-025-00096-w

DO - 10.1007/s44189-025-00096-w

M3 - Review article

AN - SCOPUS:105027149001

SN - 2010-1325

VL - 34

JO - International Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration

JF - International Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration

IS - 1

M1 - 2

ER -

A CFD analysis of photovoltaic panel cooling: a review

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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A CFD analysis of photovoltaic panel cooling: a review

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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