Table of Contents

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 to some 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

Promotional Information

An invaluable, comprehensive guide for anyone studying or researching solar technologies, with particular focus on the physics and design of photovoltaic (PV) cells and systems.

About the Author

The authors all teach and research physics at the University of Delft in The Netherlands, where they are prominent in the field of solar photovoltaics. Their vision is to educate the next generation about the development of sustainable energy systems for a greener future.