Electricity from Sunlight: An Introduction to Photovoltaics Book

About the Author

Preface

Acknowledgements

1. Introduction 1

1.1 The Sun, Earth, and Renewable Energy 1

1.2 The Solar Resource 6

1.3 The Magic of Photovoltaics 10

1.4 A Piece of History 12

1.5 Coming up to Date 17

References 23

2. Solar Cells 25

2.1 Setting the Scene 25

2.2 Crystalline Silicon 29

2.2.1 The Ideal Crystal 29

2.2.2 The p-n Junction 32

2.2.3 Monocrystalline Silicon 35

2.2.3.1 Photons in Action 35

2.2.3.2 Generating Power 38

2.2.3.3 Sunlight, Silicon, and Quantum Mechanics 43

2.2.3.4 Refining the Design 46

2.2.4 Multicrystalline Silicon 54

2.3 Amorphous and Thin-film Silicon 55

2.4 Other Cells and Materials 61

2.4.1 Copper Indium Diselenide (CIS) 61

2.4.2 Cadmium Telluride (Cdlb) 65

2.4.3 Specialised and Innovative Cells 66

2.4.3.1 Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) 66

2.4.3.2 Dye-sensitised Cells 69

References 72

3. PV Modules and Arrays 73

3.1 Introductory 73

3.2 Electrical Performance 76

3.2.1 Connecting Cells and Modules 76

3.2.2 Module Parameters 80

3.3 Capturing Sunlight 84

3.3.1 Sunshine and Shadow 84

3.3.2 Aligning the Array 88

3.4 Concentration and Tracking 94

References 102

4. Grid-connected PV Systems 103

4.1 Introductory 103

4.2 From DC to AC 105

4.3 Completing the System 112

4.4 Building-integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) 114

4.4.1 Engineering and Architecture 114

4.4.2 PV Outside, PV Inside 118

4.5 Large PV Power Plants 128

References 131

5. Stand-alone PV Systems 133

5.1 Remote and Independent 133

5.2 System Components 137

5.2.1 Batteries 137

5.2.2 Charge Controllers 141

5.2.3 Inverters 148

5.3 Hybrid Systems 152

5.4 System Sizing 155

5.4.1 Assessing the Problem 155

5.4.2 PV Arrays and Battery Banks 159

5.5 Applications 165

5.5.1 PV in Space 165

5.5.2 Island Electricity 170

5.5.3 PV Water Pumping 175

5.5.4 Solar-powered Boats 180

5.5.5 Far and Wide 186

References 190

6. Economics and the Environment 191

6.1 Paying for PV 191

6.1.1 Costs and Markets 191

6.1.2 Financial Incentives 197

6.1.3 Rural Electrification 200

6.2 Environmental Aspects 206

6.2.1 Raw Materials and Land 206

6.2.2 Life-cycle Analysis 210

References 215

Index 217