Energy Sustainability via Integrated Photovoltaic Solar Cells and Supercapacitors: A Comprehensive Review

Authors

Keywords:

Energy sustainability, PV solar cell, Supercapacitor, Energy Storage, PV Power

Abstract

The conventional method of charging supercapacitors with photovoltaic (PV) technology was initially designed such that solar cells and supercapacitors functioned independently, linked by external wiring. While this architecture allows for simultaneous energy generation and storage, it presents multiple technical complications, such as bulkiness, inflexibility, high expenses, and substantial energy loss due to the connecting wires between the two components. To address these drawbacks, integrating the supercapacitor and PV cell into a unified system can result in a more streamlined, adaptable, and modular design, effectively minimizing energy losses by eliminating the need for external connections. Including supercapacitors in photovoltaic body has great potential to increase energy storage capacity, system efficiency, and reliability. The review examines the newest developments, problems, and future for the use of supercapacitors in photovoltaic systems in great detail. While pointing out their particular benefits, such increased power density and quick charge/discharge rates, it covers basic operational concepts of supercapacitors including charge storage mechanisms and electrode materials. Various integration techniques, including parallel and series setups, have been studied to maximize energy management and total performance together with thorough system-level control methods. Illustrative case studies and practical examples show the success of PV and supercapacitor integration over a range of uses and scales. Recent research show that scholarly literature on this topic is increasing, therefore highlighting the growing curiosity in this area. Furthermore, future studies will concentrate on boosting energy density, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness as well as solving problems like temperature sensitivity and scalability of the devices. Therefore, adding supercapacitors inside PV systems offers a great way to help in the great decrease of global warming effects and support sustainable energy developments.

Dimensions

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Published

2026-05-12

How to Cite

Ugwuanyi, S. E., Mgbadike, C. D., Anie, N. O., Onogwu, A. J., Otache, O., Ogbo, M. O., Oche, S. E., & Ugwuanyi, I. C. (2026). Energy Sustainability via Integrated Photovoltaic Solar Cells and Supercapacitors: A Comprehensive Review. Nigerian Journal of Physics, 35(2), 197-206. https://doi.org/10.62292/njp.v35i2.2026.579

Issue

Vol. 35 No. 2 (2026): Nigerian Journal of Physics - Vol. 35 No. 2

Section

Review Articles
Copyright & Licensing

Copyright (c) 2026 Sabastine Emeka Ugwuanyi, Chukwuka David Mgbadike, Nicholas Oliseloke Anie, Adah James Onogwu, Oche Otache, Michael Ojugbo Ogbo, Samuel Echeoga Oche, Innocent Chukwuemeka Ugwuanyi

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Ugwuanyi, S. E., Mgbadike, C. D., Anie, N. O., Onogwu, A. J., Otache, O., Ogbo, M. O., Oche, S. E., & Ugwuanyi, I. C. (2026). Energy Sustainability via Integrated Photovoltaic Solar Cells and Supercapacitors: A Comprehensive Review. Nigerian Journal of Physics, 35(2), 197-206. https://doi.org/10.62292/njp.v35i2.2026.579