Innovations in Stationary Solar Collectors: Optimisation, Systems, and Applications

Stationary solar collectors offer significant advantages over tracking systems, including lower installation costs, reduced maintenance, and enhanced reliability. Despite their potential for widespread deployment in urban settings, off-grid regions, and industrial applications, efficiency limitations persist due to fixed orientation and variable solar irradiance. Recent advances in materials science, thermal storage, and computational methods present opportunities to overcome these constraints. This research topic explores how innovations can unlock the full potential of stationary collectors, transforming them into high-performance, sustainable solutions for global energy challenges while supporting decarbonization goals.

This research topic addresses critical gaps in stationary collector research by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration to:
- Enhance efficiency through novel materials, AI-driven optimisation, and hybrid designs that rival tracking systems.
- Expand applicability to harsh environments and resource-limited contexts.
- Promote sustainability via circular economy models and recyclable materials.

We invite original research, reviews, and industrial case studies covering:
- Material innovations: Nanofluids, PCMs, sustainable coatings.
- System design: Hybrid configurations, low-concentration optics, building integration.
- Adaptations: Frost resistance, urban deployment, off-grid applications.
- AI/Computational tools: Tilt/orientation optimisation, fluid dynamics.
- Performance: Durability, lifecycle analysis, comparative studies.

Manuscripts must present novel data or methodologies. Applications-oriented studies are encouraged. Review papers should critically assess emerging trends.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Stationary solar collectors, Thermal efficiency optimisation, Passive solar systems, Sustainable thermal materials, Urban solar applications

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.