Traditional　single　effect　and　double　effect　absorption　chillers　have　relatively　narrow　working　temperature　ranges,　which　limits　their　application　of　solar　systems.　This　study　proposes　a　novel　solar　system　integrating　concentrating　photovoltaic　and　thermal　collectors,　and　a　variable　effect　absorption　chiller,　for　more　flexible　and　efficient　co-generation　of　electricity　and　cooling.　In　this　study,　variable　effect　chiller　was　optimized,　showing　that　three　working　modes,　combined　with　optimized　control,　make　variable　effect　chillers　a　superior　choice　to　the　single　effect　and　double　effect　types.　Then,　dynamic　simulations　of　the　solar　co-generation　system　were　performed,　in　order　to　study　the　effects　of　temperature　control　on　system　performance.　The　results　showed　that,　a　high　turn-off　temperature　for　the　chiller　generally　results　in　higher　cooling　power,　shorter　working　hours　for　the　chiller,　and　in　some　cases,　a　frequent　on–off　cycling　of　chiller.　With　the　increase　in　working　temperature　level,　the　cooling　exergy　efficiency　increases,　but　total　exergy　efficiency　decreases　due　to　the　photovoltaic　cell＇s　degraded　performance.　The　total　exergy　efficiency　is　approximately　32%–33%.　A　larger　difference　between　turn-on　and　turn-off　temperatures　delays　the　start　time　of　the　chiller　while　ensuring　the　full　use　of　solar　energy.　By　adjusting　the　temperature　control　strategy,　the　novel　solar　co-generation　system　can　offer　a　cooling-electricity　ratio　from　1.4　to　2.0,　which　is　capable　of　meeting　the　demands　in　many　cases.　The　proposed　system　offers　flexible　co-generation　of　cooling　and　electricity.　©　2020