Dear colleagues,

Solar Photothermal systems represent a strong opportunity for low-cost electricity/heat production. These systems, which can be associated with thermal storage systems (latent or sensible heat), are a promising alternative for the electrification of processes and technologies, capable immediate technical and technological realization in Residential/Services sectors, in the Non-Energy Intensive Industry or in urban and short-range mobility; the production and distribution of renewable fuels in economic sectors which are difficult to electrify, such as long-distance transport - road, air or sea – or industrial sectors based on high energy intensity processes – e.g., metallurgical, chemical, glass or cement.

The range of technologies fitting the scope of such processes is wide (e.g., evacuated collectors, CPC-type collectors, Linear Fresnel Reflectors, Parabolic troughs, etc.) depending upon the desired operating temperature for each process. However, these technologies are facing a tremendous challenge to improve their overall efficiency conversion to become more competitive in comparison to other technologies. In particular, the use solar photovoltaic technology for the electrification of several thermal processes is a real alternative, especially for temperatures below 200 °C, taking advantage of its current low-cost implementation.

This Special Issue invites original review articles on recent advances in photothermal systems (pure photothermal or hybrid systems) concerning the abovementioned topics, with an emphasis on new developments for this technology seeking its maximum performance and cost-effectiveness.

Dr. Diogo Canavarro
Guest Editor

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• solar thermal
• photothermal systems
• energy storage
• electricity production
• solar process heat