Unveiling the potential of solar cooling technologies for sustainable energy and environmental solutions

The escalating growth in the traditional air-conditioning industry has led to an increased demand for energy. However, this industry has the drawbacks of high energy consumption and is non-environmentally friendly. Solar cooling technologies emerge as a pivotal solution to overcome these challenges, presenting an ideal alternative for energy and environmental considerations. However, the main drawbacks of solar cooling technologies are their initial high cost and comparatively lower performance, which remain obstacles to their broader implementation. Despite recent advancements, these technologies still struggle to compete with traditional cooling methods due to cost, performance, and maintenance challenges. This review focuses on categorizing solar cooling systems and provides a detailed examination of each type, with a specific emphasis on the most significant ones. Additionally, this work includes a historical overview of the utilization of solar energy in various cooling and refrigeration processes, covering aspects of design and application. Specifically, the article provides an extensive review of various solar-powered cooling techniques, including photovoltaic, photovoltaic-thermal (PVT), absorption, desorption, and mechanical systems, and their potential to enhance energy efficiency. It also covers the contributions of optimization and machine learning in improving the efficiency of solar cooling technologies. The current study conducts a broad survey of diverse cooling systems utilizing solar energy for either full or partial operation. Recent studies encourage for multi-functional hybrid solar cooling technologies that offer innovative solutions with low energy consumption, high performance, and cost-effectiveness. These systems are well-suited for both industrial and domestic applications. The findings of this study align with previous research, affirming that solar absorption systems are the most prevalent among various solar cooling systems. The efficacy of solar cooling is contingent on several factors, with paramount importance placed on weather conditions, sunlight intensity, and the size of the space intended for cooling. The optimal utilization of solar energy collectors and advancements in flat plate technologies have significantly improved the performance of closed adsorption and absorption cooling systems, as well as enhanced the effectiveness of their components. Additionally, the study concluded that solar cooling systems are integrated solutions, commencing with a thoughtful selection of either photovoltaic panels or solar collectors, followed by energy conservation storage, and concluding with a suitably matched cooling unit. Finally, the review emphasizes the need for continued research and development in solar cooling technologies, with a focus on optimizing performance, enhancing efficiency, and expanding their application in various settings. Future studies should focus on enhancing the coefficient of performance (COP) and cooling capacity through heat and mass recovery, multi-stage and multi-bed configurations, and refining absorption/adsorption structures and operating conditions.