The transition of solar thermal energy in recent years and future directions for industrial utilization: Materials, heat transfer analysis and applications

Solar energy is an excellent technology due to its wide applications and viability. The enhancement in thermal power requirements due to population expansion and the post-global pandemic emphasized boosting solar thermal energy harvesting. In recent years, the footprints of carbon dioxide emissions have been treacherous. To curb the devastating conditions, scientists and investors put their efforts into maximizing the utilization of alternative energy resources. Thus, solar energy power generation reached up to 1032.5 terawatts, and still, a bundle of projects is running out to tackle the vicious gas emissions. Tech-enhanced solar thermal collectors are developed for utilizing the maximum solar thermal energy. The concentrated solar thermal collectors are constructed to concentrate the direct and diffused radiations towards the receiver tube. The focus was not only on the designing parameters of solar thermal collectors. Researchers also modified the heat transfer fluids via nanotechnology and improved the thermal energy storage and carrier capacity. Nano-enhanced solar thermal collectors outclassed conventional water and building heating technologies. Solar thermal production must increase substantially to reach Net Zero Emissions by 2050. Numerous methods and technologies are under-developed, focusing on improving the designing parameters of solar thermal collectors, thermal-integrated industrial processes, heat transfer fluids capacity and analysis methods.