North Sydney Olympic Pool site for PVT solar pilot

Australian climate-tech startup Coolsheet has commenced a commercial-scale pilot of its patented aluminium heat exchange panel that converts a standard solar module into a PV Thermal (PVT) hybrid module for new installations as well as for retrofits.

Component validation testing was completed by UNSW Sydney, with the R&D partnership continuing across a series of ongoing projects and future product development. The company has a 5MW pilot line in Sydney with plans to expand into an automated manufacturing facility.

According to the company’s research, only 23 per cent to 26 per cent of the sun’s energy hitting a solar panel is currently converted to electricity, leaving around 75 per cent to be absorbed and emitted as waste heat.

PV thermal technology harnesses the waste heat through a lightweight “water jacket” attached to the back of the solar panel, storing it in hot water tanks as a thermal battery or using it as a pre-heat loop for heat pumps.

PVT also delivers a secondary benefit: cooling the solar cells, which increases electrical output by up to four per cent for every 10C reduction in cell temperature.

During summer in Australia, panel temperatures can exceed 65C meaning Coolsheet can improve PV performance by up to 15 per cent, while also reducing solar cell thermal stress and extending solar panel lifespan.

The installation maximises the on-site renewable energy generation from the limited rooftop area, mating Coolsheet’s patented lightweight aluminium heat-exchange panel to the rear of 206 x 550W PV modules. The integrated system capacity has a dual output of 114kW electrical and two to three times that figure for thermal energy capacity, simultaneously from the same footprint.

Aligned with North Sydney Council’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality across its operations by 2035, the Coolsheet system itself is carbon neutral, generating enough additional electricity from panel cooling to offset its own circulation pump load.

The PVT array forms a small but highly energy-efficient part of the all-electric pool heating system, which will maintain year-round temperatures for more than three million litres of water across five pools.

Founded in Sydney, Coolsheet is Australia’s first PVT manufacturer – one of only around 50 worldwide. Backed by $2 million in founder capital and grants to date, with patents secured in Australia and around the world, Coolsheet is raising capital to expand the team and scale local manufacturing.

Coolsheet secured the project via competitive tender, outperforming established European and US-based PVT technology providers.

CAPTION: Coolsheet founder and CTO Tom Hoole commencing the pilot install at North Sydney Pool (Supplied)