A Lively And Authoritative Account Of Today's Photovoltaic (pv) Technology And Its Practical Applications. This Book Covers Areas Including: A Brief History Of Pv And The Current International Scene; The Scientific Principles Of Solar Cells Including Silicon And New Thin-film Varieties; Pv Modules And Arrays; Grid-connected Pv, From Home Systems Up To Large Power Plants; The Wide Diversity Of Stand-alone Pv Systems, And; The Economic And Environmental Aspects Of Solar Electricity. Key Equations And Numerical Examples Are Fully Discussed, Providing Essential Theoretical Background. The Text Is Supported By Copious Illustrations And More Than Eighty Inspiring Full Colour Photographs From Around The World That Demonstrate Pv's Huge Range Of Practical Applications. This Book Is Aimed At A Wide Readership Including Professionals Working In Related Areas, And Students Taking Introductory Courses In Pv And Renewable Energy. Its Style And Level Will Also Appeal To Energy Planners And Decision Makers, Members Of Environmental Organizations, And The Increasing Number Of People Interested In Generating Their Own Electricity From Sunlight.--jacket. About The Author -- Preface -- Acknowledgements -- 1: Introduction -- Sun, Earth, And Renewable Energy -- Solar Resource -- Magic Of Photovoltaics -- Piece Of History -- Coming Up To Date -- References -- 2: Solar Cells -- Setting The Scene -- Crystalline Silicon -- Ideal Crystal -- P-n Junction -- Monocrystalline Silicon -- Photons In Action -- Generating Power -- Sunlight, Silicon, And Quantum Mechanics -- Refining The Design -- Multicrystalline Silicon -- Amorphous And Thin-film Silicon -- Other Cells And Materials -- Copper Indium Diselenide (cis) -- Cadmium Telluride (cdte) -- Specialized And Innovative Cells -- Gallium Arsenide (gaas) -- Dye-sensitized Cells -- References -- 3: Pv Modules And Arrays -- Introductory -- Electrical Performance -- Connecting Cells And Modules -- Module Parameters -- Capturing Sunlight -- Sunshine And Shadow -- Aligning The Array -- Concentrating And Tracking -- References -- 4: Grid-connected Pv Systems -- Introductory -- From Dc To Ac -- Completing The System -- Building-integrated Photovoltaics (bipv) -- Engineering And Architecture -- Pv Outside, Pv Inside -- Large Pv Power Plants -- References -- 5: Stand-alone Pv Systems -- Remote And Independent -- System Components -- Batteries -- Charge Controllers -- Inverters -- Hybrid Systems -- System Sizing -- Assessing The Problem -- Pv Arrays And Battery Banks -- Applications -- Pv In Space -- Island Electricity -- Pv Water Pumping -- Solar-powered Boats -- Far And Wide -- References -- 6: Economics And The Environment -- Paying For Pv -- Costs And Markets -- Financial Incentives -- Rural Electrification -- Environmental Aspects -- Raw Materials And Land -- Life-cycle Analysis -- References -- Index. Paul A. Lynn. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.