Suntech to Supply BIPV System in France

In recent years the idea of introducing PV energy into the electrical network has become quite popular. Grid-connected systems, such as PV in Buildings, also have a significant potential.At the same time the costs of solar PV systems keep on reducing and as advances in Building Integration (BI) techniques continue to be made there is growing interest in grid connected BIPV systems and the possibility of integration into the roof of residential buildings is of great importance. However, the solar PV array convert of 8: 15 % the absorbed solar radiation to electricity, the rest dissipates as heat. This motivates a heat and electricity cogeneration system, where heat is removed from the PV array, stored and used not only for domestic hot water heating but also can be used for low temperature space heating.Various concepts of combined PV-thermal collectors are possible.These concepts differ in their approach to obtain the maximum yield and it is not easy to say whether the yield of a complicated design will be substantially higher than the yield of a simpler one [1].
.[1] Hussain Alrobaei, 2007 , The Effectiveness of Combined Heat and Power Solar Water Heating Systems/ environmental-expert.com/resultarticlept.asp.

I agree with Dr.ALROBAEI, the efficiency of Solar Thermal (AKA CSP) is far superior to PV, economically and in other measures. Given a CHP (combined heat power and A/C) model, the efficiencies are even higher, because you directly using the captured thermal energy, not converting it, but directly applying it to heat. If you convert renewable power stock to electricity, and then electricity to heat, that is not an efficient paradigm. My company, is intent of commercializing, widespread $.05/kWh Solar thermal, JR CEO SPI Inc JRIAM1945@aol.com. Can't do that with a PV model.