Clean Electricity From Photovoltaics

The second edition of Clean Electricity from Photovoltaics, first published in 2001, provides an updated account of the underlying science, technology and market prospects for photovoltaics. All areas have advanced considerably in the decade since the first edition was published, which include: multi-crystalline silicon cell efficiencies having made impressive advances, thin-film CdTe cells having established a decisive market presence, and organic photovoltaics holding out the prospect of economical large-scale power production. Contents:The Past and Present (M D Archer)Limits to Photovoltaic Energy Conversion Efficiency (M A Green)Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells (M A Green)Thin-Film Solar Cells Based on Amorphous and Microcrystalline Silicon (C Ballif, M Despeisse and F-J Haug)Polycrystalline Cadmium Telluride Photovoltaic Devices (T A Gessert and D Bonnet)Cu(In,Ga)Se2 and Related Solar Cells (U Rau and H W Schock)Super-High-Efficiency III–V Tandem and Multijunction Cells (M Yamaguchi)Organic Photovoltaics (D Credgington)Dye- and Perovskite-Sensitised Mesoscopic Solar Cells (M Grätzel and J R Durrant)Quantum Well Solar Cells (J Nelson and N Ekins-Daukes)Concentrator Systems (I Luque-Heredia and A Luque)Photovoltaic Modules, Systems and Applications (N M Pearsall)The Photovoltaic Business: Manufacturers and Markets (A Jäger-Waldau) Readership: Physicists, chemists, material scientists, engineers, energy analysts, policy makers and other solar energy specialists. Keywords:Electricity;Photovoltaics;Cadmium;Solar Cells

Photovoltaic cells provide clean, reversible electrical power from the sun. Made from semiconductors, they are durable, silent in operation and free of polluting emissions. In this book, experts from all sectors of the PV community — materials scientists, physicists, production engineers, economists and environmentalists — give their critical appraisals of where the technology is now and what its prospects are./a

Like most industries around the world, the energy industry has also made, and continues to make, a long march toward “green” energy. The science has come a long way since the 1970s, and renewable energy and other green technologies are becoming more and more common, replacing fossil fuels. It is, however, still a struggle, both in terms of energy sources keeping up with demand, and the development of useful technologies in this area. To maintain the supply for electrical energy, researchers, engineers and other professionals in industry are continuously exploring new eco-friendly energy technologies and power electronics, such as solar, wind, tidal, wave, bioenergy, and fuel cells. These technologies have changed the concepts of thermal, hydro and nuclear energy resources by the adaption of power electronics advancement and revolutionary development in lower manufacturing cost for semiconductors with long time reliability. The latest developments in renewable resources have proved their potential to boost the economy of any country. Green energy technology has not only proved the concept of clean energy but also reduces the dependencies on fossil fuel for electricity generation through smart power electronics integration. Also, endless resources have more potential to cope with the requirements of smart building and smart city concepts. A valuable reference for engineers, scientists, chemists, and students, this volume is applicable to many different fields, across many different industries, at all levels. It is a must-have for any library.

Solar Photovoltaic Cells: Photons to Electricity outlines our need for photovoltaics - a field which is exploding in popularity and importance. This concise book provides a thorough understanding of solar photovoltaic cells including how these devices work, what can be done to optimize the technology, and future trends in the marketplace. This book contains a detailed and logical step-by-step explanation of thermodynamically-consistent solar cell operating physics, a comparison of advanced multi-junction CPV power plants versus combined-cycle thermal power plants in the framework of energy cascading, and a discussion of solar cell semiconductor resource limitations and the scalability of solar electricity as we move forward. Quantitative examples allow the reader to understand the scope of solar PV and the challenges and opportunities of producing clean electricity. Provides a compact and focused discussion of solar photovoltaics and solar electricity generation. Helps you understand the limits of solar PV and be able to predict future trends. Quantitative examples help you grasp the scope of solar PV and the challenges and opportunities of producing electricity from a renewable resource.

A reliable, accessible and comprehensive guide for students of photovoltaic applications and renewable energy engineering. This thoroughly considered textbook from a group of leading influential and award-winning authors is brimming with information and is carefully designed to meet the needs of its readers. Along with exercises and references at the end of each chapter, the book features a set of detailed technical appendices that provide essential equations, data sources and standards. Starting from basics with 'The Characteristics of Sunlight' the reader is guided step-by-step through semiconductors and p-n junctions; the behaviour of solar cells; cell properties ad design; and PV cell interconnection and module fabrication. The book covers stand-alone photovoltaic systems; specific purpose photovoltaic systems; remote are power supply systems; and grid-connected photovoltaic systems. There is also a section on photovoltaic water pumping system components and design. Applied Photovolatics is well illustrated and readable with an abundance of diagrams and illustrations, and will provide the reader with all the information needed to start working with photovoltaics.

The utilisation of renewable energies is not at all new; in the history of mankind renewable energies have for a long time been the primary possibility of generating energy. This only changed with industrial revolution when lignite and hard coal became increasingly more important. Later on, also crude oil gained importance. Offering the advantages of easy transportation and processing also as a raw material, crude oil has become one of the prime energy carriers applied today. Moreover, natural gas used for space heating and power provision as well as a transportation fuel has become increasingly important, as it is abundantly available and only requires low investments in terms of energy conversion facilities. As fossil energy carriers were increasingly used for energy generation, at least by the industrialised countries, the application of renewable energies decreased in absolute and relative terms; besides a few exceptions, renewable energies are of secondary importance with regard to overall energy generation.

A field as diverse as optoelectronics needs a reference that is equally versatile. From basic physics and light sources to devices and state-of-the-art applications, the Handbook of Optoelectronics provides comprehensive, self-contained coverage of fundamental concepts and practical applications across the entire spectrum of disciplines encompassed by optoelectronics. The handbook unifies a broad array of current research areas with a forward-looking focus on systems and applications. Beginning with an introduction to the relevant principles of physics, materials science, engineering, and optics, the book explores the details of optoelectronic devices and techniques including semiconductor lasers, optical detectors and receivers, optical fiber devices, modulators, amplifiers, integrated optics, LEDs, and engineered optical materials. Applications and systems then become the focus, with sections devoted to industrial, medical, and commercial applications, communications, imaging and displays, sensing and data processing, spectroscopic analysis, the art of practical optoelectronics, and future prospects. This extensive resource comprises the efforts of more than 70 world-renowned experts from leading industrial and academic institutions around the world and includes many references to contemporary works. Whether used as a field reference, as a research tool, or as a broad and self-contained introduction to the field, the Handbook of Optoelectronics places everything you need in a unified, conveniently organized format.

Indhold: Solar cells: What they are and how they work ; How solar cells are made ; Solar cells and modules ; Using photovoltaics ; Batteries and other storage systems ; New developments in photovoltaic technology ; The future of photovoltaics ; Assembling your own modules