A Comprehensive Guide to Solar Energy Systems: With Special Focus on Photovoltaic Systems, the most advanced and research focused text on all aspects of solar energy engineering, is a must have edition on the present state of solar technology, integration and worldwide distribution.

Table of Contents

• List of Contributors
• Preface
• Introduction
• Why Solar Energy?
• 1.1 Introduction
• 1.2 How Much Solar Energy Falls on the Earth and How Much is Used to Make Electricity?
• 1.3 Types of Technology That Can Harness Solar Energy
• 1.4 Why We Need to Develop Solar Energy
• 1.5 The Difficulties With Harnessing Solar Energy
• 1.6 Is Harnessing Solar Energy Cost Effective?
• 1.7 A Comparison of Solar PV Installed Capacity With Other Renewable Forms of Energy
• 1.8 The Future of Solar Energy
• 1.9 Conclusions
• Acknowledgment
• Solar Energy Resource and World Wide
• Solar Power Development in China
• 2.1 Introduction
• 2.2 Photovoltaic Manufacture
• 2.3 Industrial Policy
• 2.4 Future Solar Energy in China
• 2.5 Conclusions
• Solar Power in Europe: Status and Outlook
• 3.1 The Past: Solar Developments in Europe (2000–16)
• 3.2 The Future: 5-Year Market Outlook (2017–21)
• 3.3 Solar in the European Electricity System
• 3.4 Policy Recommendation for Solar in Europe
• 3.5 Conclusions
• Solar Power in the USA—Status and Outlook
• 4.1 Overall US Market Indicators
• 4.2 The United States as a Patchwork of States
• 4.3 US Solar Energy Market Outlook
• 4.4 The United States as a Driver of Innovation
• Sustainable Solar Energy Collection and Storage for Rural Sub-Saharan Africa
• 5.1 Introduction
• 5.2 Geography
• 5.3 The Circular Economy Approach
• 5.4 Photovoltaic Technology
• 5.5 Energy, and Energy Storage, Needs of Households in Rural Africa
• 5.6 Energy Storage—Battery Choices
• 5.7 Carbon Footprint and Lifecycle Impact Considerations
• 5.8 Resource-Efficiency and Circular Economy
• 5.9 Future Solar Cell Technologies
• 5.10 Conclusions
• Thermal Solar Energy Technology
• Solar Water Heaters
• 6.1 Introduction
• 6.2 Working Principle of SWH Systems
• 6.3 The Classification of SWH Systems
• 6.4 Most Advanced Technologies of SWHs
• Concentrating Solar Thermal Power
• 7.1 Introduction
• 7.2 Parabolic-Trough Collectors
• 7.3 Central Receiver Systems
• 7.4 Compact Linear Fresnel Concentrators
• 7.5 Parabolic Dishes
• 7.6 Technology Trends
• Photo Voltaic Solar Energy–Generation of Electricity
• Photovoltaics: The Basics
• 8.1 Introduction
• 8.2 Light Absorption in Materials and Excess Carrier Generation
• 8.3 Photovoltaic Effect and Basic Solar Cell Parameters
• 8.4 Principles of Solar Cell Construction
• 8.5 Photovoltaic Modules—Principles and Construction
• Crystalline Silicon Solar Cell and Module Technology
• 9.1 Introduction
• 9.2 Semiconductor Silicon
• 9.3 Crystalline Silicon Wafer Fabrication
• 9.4 Crystalline Silicon PV Cell Design and Fabrication Technology
• 9.5 Crystalline Si Module Design and Fabrication
• 9.6 Conclusions
• CdTe Solar Cells
• 10.1 Introduction
• 10.2 The CdTe Solar Cell: History, Layers, and Processes
• 10.3 Looking Forward—Voltage, Doping, and Substrate Cells
• 10.4 Conclusion
• An Overview of Hybrid Organic–Inorganic Metal Halide Perovskite Solar Cells
• 11.1 Introduction
• 11.2 Thin Film Fabrication/Formation
• 11.3 Perovskite Solar Cell Device Structure
• 11.4 Device Optimization
• 11.5 Stability Issues and Challenges of Perovskite Solar Cells
• 11.6 Summary
• Organic Photovoltaics
• 12.1 Introduction
• 12.2 Operating Principles
• 12.3 Device Structure
• 12.4 Challenges and Opportunities for Improved Performance
• 12.5 Conclusion
• Upconversion and Downconversion Processes for Photovoltaics
• 13.1 Introduction
• 13.2 Upconversion
• 13.3 Downconversion
• 13.4 Conclusions
• Advanced Building Integrated Photovoltaic/Thermal Technologies
• 14.1 Introduction
• 14.2 Building Integrated Thermal Electric Roofing System
• 14.3 BIPVT Solar Roof
• 14.4 Modeling Procedures and Performance Evaluation of the Multifunctional BIPVT Panel
• 14.5 Summary and Conclusions
• Acknowledgment
• Integration of PV Generated Electricity into National Grids
• 15.1 Introduction: Rapid Growth of the Solar PV Industry
• 15.2 Why We Need to Integrate Solar Power into National Grids
• 15.3 How Solar PV Fits in
• 15.4 Is the Duck Relevant to Solar PV in United Kingdom?
• 15.5 Effect of Growth in Small Distributed Installations
• 15.6 ‘Nonsynchronous’ Inverter Type Generators Supporting the Network
• 15.7 Converter Technology
• 15.8 Conclusions
• Small-Scale PV Systems Used in Domestic Applications
• 16.1 Introduction
• 16.2 Electrical Characteristics of PV Cells/Modules
• 16.3 Features of Converter Topologies in PV Systems
• 16.4 Configurations of Grid-Tied PV Systems
• 16.5 Issues on PV Systems and Cell and Module Level Failures
• 16.6 Conclusions
• Energy and Carbon Intensities of Stored Solar Photovoltaic Energy
• 17.1 The Need for Storage
• 17.2 Key Characteristics for Storage
• 17.3 Net Energy Analysis of Storing and Curtailing Solar PV Resources
• 17.4 The Carbon Footprint of Storing Solar PV
• 17.5 Conclusions
• Thin Film Photovoltaics
• 18.1 Introduction
• 18.2 Thin Film Cell Configurations
• 18.3 Deposition and Growth Techniques
• 18.4 Flexible Cell Formations
• 18.5 Challenges
• 18.6 Conclusions
• Environmental Impacts of Solar Energy
• Solar Panels in the Landscape
• 19.1 Introduction
• 19.2 Solar Installation Types
• 19.3 Key Visual Elements
• 19.4 Environmental Issues in Planning
• 19.5 Offset Mitigation
• 19.6 Concluding Remarks
• Solar Energy Development and the Biosphere
• 20.1 Introduction
• 20.2 Solar Energy Effectors and Potential Effects on the Environment
• 20.3 Ecological Impacts and Responses
• 20.4 Summary
• Energy Return on Energy Invested (EROI) and Energy Payback Time (EPBT) for PVs
• 21.1 Introduction
• 21.2 Methods of EROI Analysis
• 21.3 Results of EROI Analysis of PV Systems, Harmonization and Trends Over Time
• Life Cycle Analysis of Photovoltaics: Strategic Technology Assessment
• 22.1 Introduction
• 22.2 Life Cycle Analysis Methodology
• 22.3 Current Photovoltaic Status
• 22.4 Current Photovoltaic Life Cycle Analysis Results
• 22.5 Technology Roadmaping
• 22.6 Prospective Life Cycle Analysis of Future Designs
• 22.7 Results
• 22.8 Conclusion
• Economics, Financial Modeling, and Investment in PVs, Growth Trends, and the Future of Solar Energy
• Materials: Abundance, Purification, and the Energy Cost Associated with the Manufacture of Si, CdTe, and CIGS PV
• 23.1 Introduction
• 23.2 Critical Metals
• 23.3 Material Requirements for PV
• 23.4 Energy Costs of Materials
• 23.5 Conclusion
• Global Growth Trends and the Future of Solar Power: Leading Countries, Segments, and Their Prospects
• 24.1 Introduction
• 24.2 Solar Growth Trends
• 24.3 Future Market Growth Potential
• 24.4 Segmental Growth
• 24.5 Industrial Growth
• 24.6 Conclusions
• Optimal Renewable Energy Systems: Minimizing the Cost of Intermittent Sources and Energy Storage
• 25.1 Introduction
• 25.2 Renewable Energy Microeconomic Considerations
• 25.3 Economic Theory of Renewable Energy Intermittency
• 25.4 Economics of Renewable Energy Intermittency: Empirical Example from Vermont
• 25.5 Extensions and Conclusions