A Comprehensive Guide to Solar Energy Systems

Editor/Author Letcher, Trevor and Fthenakis, Vasilis M.
Publication Year: 2018
Publisher: Elsevier Science & Technology

Single-User Purchase Price: $175.00
Unlimited-User Purchase Price: $262.50
ISBN: 978-0-12-811480-3
Image Count: 264
Book Status: Available
Table of Contents

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.

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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