Advances in photovoltaic/thermal assisted ground source heat pump: structural design, material selection, coupling integration, and control strategy optimization

Photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) systems have emerged as a promising auxiliary energy source for ground-source heat pumps (GSHPs), effectively mitigating long-term ground thermal imbalance and reducing grid electricity dependence. Despite their significant potential, comprehensive reviews of hybrid PV/T-GSHP systems remain scarce in recent literature. This study addresses this gap through a systematic review of advancements reported in over 150 recent studies, with particular emphasis on system architecture, functional materials, multi-source coupling integration, and advanced control strategies. Key areas examined include optimized designs of ground heat exchangers and PV/T heat collection components, the incorporation of nanomaterials to enhance heat transfer and photovoltaic efficiency, hybrid configurations integrating air-source heat pumps, solar roadways, and biomass systems, as well as intelligent operational and energy management strategies. Recent progress demonstrates that synergistic optimizations in structure, materials, and energy coupling can achieve up to 20 % improvement in overall exergy efficiency, a 25.6 % reduction in PV panel peak temperature, and a heating coefficient of performance (COP) reaching 6.0. These findings provide critical insights into performance enhancement pathways for PV/T-GSHP systems, offering substantial implications for improving building energy efficiency and accelerating the realization of carbon peak and neutrality targets in the building sector.