# Evaluation of Coupling PV and Air Conditioning vs. Solar Cooling Systems--Case Study from Jordan
## 4 Conclusions  
Solar heating power systems for the purpose of cooling buildings were purported to be a turning point in the quest to find environmentally friendly technologies in the energy field. Jordan is a pioneer among developing nations in terms of the utilisation  
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{l c} \hline \hline
**Cooling Option** & **IRR** \\ \hline Solar Thermal Cooling System (COP = 0.79) & 5\% \\ \hline Solar Thermal Cooling System (COP = 0.32) & \(-4\%\) \\ \hline Coupled PV and Air Conditioning & 19\% \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table}
Table 1: Internal rate of return (IRR) for different cooling systems.  
Figure 6: Payback period and the cumulative present worth across the lifespan for the two alternatives.  
of solar thermal energy for cooling buildings. In this study, a solar thermal system and air conditioning that was driven by PV technology were evaluated. From the outset, solar cooling systems were planned to be cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternatives for many developing nations situated in hot climates, which could replace the traditional air conditioning systems where the supplied power is electricity generated from fossil fuels. Nevertheless, the development of PV technology and air-conditioning technologies impacts the prospects of solar cooling systems. This study analysed two different options for cooling: PV technology coupled with air conditioning and a solar cooling system (absorption chillers where solar collectors provide the thermal energy) for a specific developing country located in the Eastern Mediterranean region that is characterised by a hot dry climate (Jordan).  
These two kinds of cooling systems, in which the power was supplied by a photovoltaic and solar thermal cooling system, respectively, were situated on the campus of GJU situated in Amman, Jordan. The findings indicated that the solar thermal cooling system's initial cost was approximately $3.150M, whereas it was about $3M for the central air conditioning and PV system. When discounted by 6% per year, the present worth of future cash payments for the PV technology coupled with air conditioning was approximately $9,745,000, whereas the solar thermal cooling system will not reach the breakeven point at negative $1,730,000; additionally, the solar thermal cooling system's LCOE value is $2.35/kWh, whereas the value for the air conditioning system coupled with PV is under $0.05/kWh.  
The implementation of solar thermal cooling systems within developing countries has certain shortcomings, including the increased costs, and more importantly, the fact that there is a lack of experience in using such systems in these countries. Added to the extensive maintenance needs, the reduced COP and the practicality and feasibility of the solar thermal cooling systems increase the pressure on such technologies to maintain competitiveness when faced with the developments in air conditioning and PV technologies.  
Formal analysis, A.A.; Methodology, A.A.; Validation, A.A.; Writing-original draft, A.A.; Writing-review & editing, M.J., M.A.-O. and M.Z. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.  
This research received no external funding.  
The authors declare no conflict of interest.