In common, PV module converts only 4–17% of the incoming solar radiation into electricity. Thus more
than 50% of the incident solar energy is converted as heat and the temperature of PV module is increased.
The increase in module temperature in turn decreases the electrical yield and efficiency of the module
with a permanent structural damage of the module due to prolonged period of thermal stress (also
known as thermal degradation of the module). An effective way of improving efficiency and reducing
the rate of thermal degradation of a PV module is to reduce the operating temperature of PV module. This
can be achieved by cooling the PV module during operation. Hence in the present work, a simple passive
cooling system with cotton wick structures is developed for standalone flat PV modules. The thermal and
electrical performance of flat PV module with cooling system consisting of cotton wick structures in combination
with water, Al2O3/water nanofluid and CuO/water nanofluid are investigated experimentally.
The experimental results are also compared with the thermal and electrical performance of flat PV
module without cooling system.