Hybrid solar PVT systems for renewable energy in dairy farming: A performance and economic analysis in Belgium

The global dairy sector, a significant energy consumer and greenhouse gas emitter, urgently requires sustainable energy solutions. This study presents a comprehensive techno-economic and environmental analysis of implementing hybrid photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) systems on a dairy farm in Braine-l’Alleud, Belgium. We conducted the first comparative evaluation of three distinct PVT technologies, Absolicon C-PVT, Solarus C-PVT, and DualSun FP-PVT, tailored to meet the farm’s specific high-temperature thermal demands (70–78°C) for cleaning and disinfection. Using a validated TRNSYS simulation model integrated with the farm’s existing heat recovery system, our analysis demonstrated that the Absolicon C-PVT system was optimal, achieving a peak thermal efficiency of 77% and meeting 100% of the summer thermal load and 18.7% of the annual electrical demand with a 14-panel array. Despite a higher initial investment (€104,000), the system offered the shortest payback period of 7 years and the lowest levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of €0.169/kWh(thermal) and €0.355/kWh(electrical), a finding robust across sensitivity analyses of weather and energy price uncertainties. The proposed system reduces annual operational carbon emissions by 24.1 tons CO2. Furthermore, the study proposes a novel “PVT Fusion Hub” concept for streamlined installation. This work provides a scalable framework for agricultural renewable energy integration, demonstrating that high-temperature PVT technology is a technically viable and economically robust solution for decarbonizing the dairy industry.