I want to combine this with a cooling system that captures the excess heat and stores it for heating during the winter and for limitless hot water. This would keep the panels cooler and more efficient. The heat is just a bonus.

I want to combine this with a cooling system that captures the excess heat and stores it for heating during the winter and for limitless hot water. This would keep the panels cooler and more efficient. The heat is just a bonus.


That depends on the grade of heat you want to capture. The higher the temperature, the lower the electrical efficiency of the solar cells.

For space heating purposes, low grade heat could be collected. For water heating purposes, temperatures exceeding 55 C are necessary to prevent bacterial growth. The method to store the heat would be a communal system with a large underground heat reservoir because individual home systems would need too much insulation to be cost-effective.