Self-adaptive interfacial cooling for sustainable energy–water cogeneration in photovoltaics

Abstract

The simultaneous production of electricity and freshwater via solar energy offers a promising approach to addressing global energy and water challenges. Here, we present a self-adaptive interfacial evaporation-driven photovoltaic energy–water cogeneration (IEWC) system that passively integrates thermal regulation with atmospheric water harvesting to enhance photovoltaic (PV) performance. By coupling a commercial PV module with a hydrophilic thin-film evaporator, the system enables efficient heat extraction and adaptive evaporative cooling, reducing surface temperature and suppressing thermal losses. Outdoor testing demonstrated a power output increase of 8.4% and a temperature reduction of up to 23 °C compared to standalone PV modules. Life-cycle techno-economic analysis shows that IEWC consistently yields the lowest relative operational level (ROL) among various PV cooling strategies across discount rate scenarios. Under a 5% technological improvement assumption, projected annual savings reach USD 17.48 billion (1.6‱ of global GDP), alongside notable reductions in CO₂ emissions, land use, and freshwater demand. The system performs reliably under variable outdoor conditions, making it suitable for off-grid and arid deployments. These findings highlight IEWC as a scalable, energy-autonomous solution for integrated power and water generation, with strong potential to advance sustainable and resilient solar infrastructure.