To estimate the performance of the photovoltaic power systems is the key issue in their techno-economic feasibility analysis. Performances, on the other hand, strongly depends on the module temperatures of the photovoltaic systems. In this study, we evaluated the performance of ten different module temperature estimation models using the measured outdoor data of five different modules. The modules are installed at the rooftop of a building located at Central Anatolia where the climate is cold and semi-arid. The results showed that the models having smaller number of parameters perform better than the others. We concluded that such analysis should be carried out at different ambient conditions so that the best performing models for the site can be obtained. Another outcome of the study is that the seasonal evaluation of the performance of the models should be carried out.

Concentrator photovoltaics (CPVs) have demonstrated high electrical efficiencies and technological potential, especially when deployed in CPV–thermal (CPV-T) hybrid absorbers, in which the cells’ waste heat can be used to power industrial processes. However, the high cost of tracking systems and the predominant use of expensive multi-junction PV cells have caused the market of solar co-generation technologies to stall. This paper describes the development and testing of a low-cost alternative CPV cell based on crystalline silicone (c-Si) for use in a novel injection-molded parabolic hybrid solar collector, generating both, photovoltaic electricity and thermal power. The study covers two different c-Si cell technologies, namely, passive emitter rear contact (PERC) and aluminum back surface field (Al-BSF). Simulation design and manufacturing are described with special attention to fingerprinting in order to achieve high current carrying capacities for concentrated sunlight. It was determined that Al-BSF cells offer higher efficiencies than PERC for the considered use case. Solar simulator tests showed that the highly doped 4 cm² cells (50 ohm/sq) reach efficiencies of 16.9% under 1 sun and 13.1% under 60 suns at 25 °C with a temperature coefficient of −0.069%(Abs)/K. Finally, options to further improve the cells are discussed and an outlook is given for deployment in a field-testing prototype.

Countries prioritize secure and cheap energy over clean energy in their energy policies, and Türkiye is no different. The Strategy Plan 2015–2019 of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources emphasizes the exploitation of domestic coal for energy security, while Türkiye intends to curb its emissions by 41% by 2030. These two targets contradict in terms of climate change mitigation. In retrospect, this study aims to determine the role of coal, wind, and solar power in energy policy-making through scenario analyses. The results indicate that if Türkiye continued its pre-2020 energy policy, its use of domestic coal would be important for energy security. On the other hand, both wind and solar have the capacity to contribute to the country’s efforts towards energy security and climate change mitigation.

Outdoor tests of photovoltaics module are crucial both for marketing and for research and technological developments. The electric generation performance and their degradation rates and lifetime are also related to different climatic conditions of the regions. In this work, the outdoor tests are carried out for six different photovoltaic (PV) modules under Arid-steppe Climate condition of Ankara, Türkiye. Their degradation rates are calculated by using linear regression (LR) and year on year (YOY) methods. The comparison between LR and YOY are carried out and with the other performed studies of different regions of world. In addition, it is investigated that how effective the climatic conditions on daily degradation rates. The results obtained are as follows: Mono-Si and Hetero-junction Silicon (HIT) cell modules degradation rates of 0.71/1.56 %/year and 0.84 %/year are respectively obtained by LR method and 0.57/0.90 %/year and 0.85%/year are respectively by YOY method. The degradation rates for Cupper Indium Selenide (CIS), Cupper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS) and microcrystalline Silicon/Amorphous Silicon (µc-Si/a-Si) modules have 1.73/1.49 %/year, 11.55/9.52 %/year and 1.48 %/year for LR method and 1.28/1.12 %/year, 9.94/9.53 %/year and 0.99 %/year for YOY method are obtained respectively. It is also obtained for the Polycrystalline Silicon Modules as 1.20/1.86 %/year degradation rates by LR method and 0.79/1.88 %/year degradation rates by YOY method.

The rapid melting of polar ice sheets is one of the biggest unknowns in sea-level-rise models. The instability is not due to a single factor but emerges due to the complex coupling of thermodynamic forcing and mechanical response. This paper provided a review of the physical mechanisms governing these processes with an emphasis on the transition from surface melt to structural failure.The authors analyze surface energy balance and latent heat release from the firn-ice aquifers instability in the ice sheet. We also investigate how these thermal anomalies become mechanical drivers, such as hydro-fracturing and basal lubrication, that reduce effective stress and accelerate ice flow. The link between Marine Ice Sheet Instability (MISI) hypothesis and purely atmospheric forcing is also discussed from continuum mechanics perspective.By reviewing the existing literature through a physics view, this paper wants to identify the gaps in the current ice sheet models (ISM) in terms of stress transmission and fracture propagation parameterization. The purpose of this project is to lay the theoretical groundwork for a master’s thesis that aims to use a more integrated model of the non-linear response of ice sheets to climate warming.