In　order　to　utilize　the　low　grade　heat　energy　efficiently,　the　preliminary　scheme　of　a　metal　hydride　based　Combined　Cooling,　Heating　and　Power　(CCHP)　system　driven　by　solar　energy　and　industrial　waste　heat　was　proposed,　in　which　both　refrigeration　and　power　generation　are　achieved.　Following　a　step-by-step　procedure　recently　developed　by　the　authors,　two　pairs　of　metal　hydrides　were　selected　for　the　CCHP　system.　The　working　principle　of　the　system　was　discussed　in　detail　and　further　design　of　the　configuration　for　CCHP　was　conducted.　Based　on　the　cycle　mentioned　above,　the　models　of　energy　conversion　and　exergy　analysis　were　set　up.　The　multi-element　valued　method　was　used　to　assess　the　performance　of　the　CCHP　system　in　a　whole　sense,　thus　the　analysis　of　influence　factors　on　the　system　performance　can　be　carried　out.　The　typical　climate　conditions　of　Xi＇an　in　2005　were　taken　for　discussion,　and　the　results　showed　that　the　system　performance　is　mainly　affected　by　the　quantity　of　solar　radiation　energy.　The　objective　of　the　system＇s　optimization　is　to　increase　the　exergy　efficiency　of　the　metal　hydride　heat　pump,　based　on　the　quantity　of　solar　radiation　energy.　The　comparison　with　two　different　traditional　types　of　CCHP　systems　proved　that　the　novel　CCHP　system　is　superior　to　the　traditional　CCHP　systems　concerning　the　integrated　performance.　(C)　2009　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.