This book uniquely covers both the physics of photovoltaic (PV) cells and the design of PV systems for real-life applications, including:
- The fundamental principles of semiconductor solar cells.
- PV technology: crystalline silicon solar cells; thin-film cells; PV modules; third-generation concepts.
- PV systems, from simple stand-alone to complex systems connected to the grid; components; design; deployment; performance.
The book is an invaluable reference for researchers, industrial engineers and designers working in solar energy generation. The book is also ideal for university and third-level physics or engineering courses on solar photovoltaics, with exercises to check students’ understanding and reinforce learning. It is the perfect companion to the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Solar Energy (DelftX, ET.3034TU) presented by co-author Arno Smets. The course is available in English on the nonprofit open source edX.org platform, and in Arabic on edraak.org. Over 100,000 students have already registered for these MOOCs.
I. Introduction
1. Energy
2. Status and prospects of PV technology
3. The working principle of a solar cell
II. PV Fundamentals
4. Electrodynamic basics
5. Solar radiation
6. Basic semiconductor physics
7. Generation and recombination of electron-hole pairs
8. Semiconductor junctions
9. Solar cell parameters and equivalent circuit
10. Losses and efficiency limits
III. PV technology
11. A short history of solar cells
12. Crystalline silicon solar cells
13. Thin-film solar cells
14. A closer look tosome processes
15. PV modules
16. Third generation concepts
IV. PV systems
17. Introduction to PV systems
18. Location issues
19. Components of PV systems
20. PV system design
21. PV System economics and ecology
V. Alternative solar energy conversion technologies
22. Solar thermal energy
23. Solar fuels
Appendix
A. Derivations in electrodynamics
B. Derivation of homojunctions J-V curves
C. Some aspects of surface recombination
D. The morphology of selected TCO samples
E. Some aspects on location issues
F. Derivations for DC-DC converters
G. Fluid-dynamic model
Bibliography
Index
Klaus Jäger
The authors' teaching and research activities at Delft University of Technology has resulted in this book. Their vision is to educate the next generation of solar technology innovators.
Arno Smets
Arno Smets teaches and researches at Delft University of Technology. He presents the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Solar Energy (DelftX, ET.3034 TU). Over 100,000 students have registered for the MOOC, which is available in both english and arabic.