Handbook of Photovoltaic Science and Engineering [Hardcover]

Antonio Luque (Editor), Steven Hegedus (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471491969 | ISBN-13: 978-0471491965 | Publication Date: July 7, 2003 | Edition: 1

Handbook of Photovoltaic Science and Engineering incorporates the most recent technological advances and research developments in photovoltaics. All topics relating to the photovoltaic (PV) industry are discussed and each chapter has been written by an internationally-known expert in the field.

Detailed treatment covers:

• scientific basis of the photovoltaic effect and solar cell operation
• the production of solar silicon and of silicon-based solar cells and modules
• the science and technology of up-and-coming thin film PV technologies
• how choice of semiconductor materials and their production influence costs and performance
• high-performance approaches for concentrators and space applications
• new types of organic dye-based solar cells
• making measurements on solar cells and modules and how to relate results under standardised test conditions to real outdoor performance
• photovoltaic system installation and operation of components such as inverters and batteries.
• architectural applications of building-integrated PV
• finance and the role of investors: public funding and policy in promoting PV world-wide

Each chapter is written to be partially accessible to beginners while providing detailed information of the physics and technology for experts. Encompassing a review of past work and the fundamentals in solar electric science, this outstanding reference provides an invaluable resource to practitioners, consultants, researchers and students in the PV engineering industry.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Together with well-organized references and index, this handbook I recommended for libraries with scientific collections…" (E-Streams, Vol. 7, No. 6)

From the Back Cover

You will not find a more comprehensive reference on solar energy! Handbook of Photovoltaic Science and Engineering incorporates the most recent technological advances and research developments in photovoltaics. All topics relating to the photovoltaic (PV) industry are discussed and each chapter has been written by an internationally-known expert in the field.

Detailed treatment covers:
* scientific basis of the photovoltaic effect and solar cell operation

* the production of solar silicon and of silicon-based solar cells and modules

* the science and technology of up-and-coming thin film PV technologies

* how choice of semiconductor materials and their production influence costs and performance

* high-performance approaches for concentrators and space applications

* new types of organic dye-based solar cells

* making measurements on solar cells and modules and how to relate results under standardised test conditions to real outdoor performance

* photovoltaic system installation and operation of components such as inverters and batteries.

* architectural applications of building-integrated PV

* finance and the role of investors: public funding and policy in promoting PV world-wide
Each chapter is written to be partially accessible to beginners while providing detailed information of the physics and technology for experts. Encompassing a review of past work and the fundamentals in solar electric science, this outstanding reference provides an invaluable resource to practitioners, consultants, researchers and students in the PV engineering industry.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1168 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (July 7, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471491969
• ISBN-13: 978-0471491965
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.9 x 2.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,237,851 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful advanced technical overview, August 4, 2005

By 

Photon Dan "Watt'son" (Middle earth, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handbook of Photovoltaic Science and Engineering (Hardcover)

I used to sell solar electric PV systems as an ARCO Solar dealer back in the early 1980's. At the time no one could pronounce the name of the technology, and most thought is was angel dust. Solar powered calculators were just coming in, same with watches. Solar powered emergencyy freeway phones were 15 years away, unheard of at the time.
This technology is the most fascinating and yet due to cost, the most frustrating of all the renewable energy technologies. It is not widely used in mainstream electrical production, yet will fill vital niches in the renewable energy portfolio of any advanced economy.

The big energy companies have spent big bucks on research and have patents in all directions, yet the most widely sold solar cell modules use twenty year old technology.

Now that Germany has finally taken the plunge in supporting solar in a big way, other countries are taking a second look. California's governor tells the German chancellor that "we will do it even better." So the interest in the technology is growing.
This book is a bridge between the Popular Science or Scientific American articles and the chaotic science papers so much in vogue among academics trying to publish-not-perish. It is readable, for an educated individual who has some high school science.
Once you are over the rahrah and want to know "How does it actually work? or Could I get into manufacturing? this book will help. Trying to get answers to these questions is tough. No way will the marketing staff at BP Solar or Sharp or Shell tell you how they manufacture solar cells and assemble them into modules. So you wander in a sea of science papers, some in expensive collections like the IEEE proceedings or the obscure conference papers. Perhaps you stumble across the US DOE ENREL web site, or the patent information. But without the foundational knowlege, it is all hard to evaluate. So now comes the Wiley Handbook of Photovoltaic Science and Engineering. Take the time to use the "look inside" feature to see the table of contents. The writing style varies, each chapter is written by a different author. What unifies the presentation is that it is understandable. You will read some paragraphs three times but hey, this isn't Jules Verne. Yes it will take some effort, and you definitely need to know at least high school chemistry and physics, but when you really want to know something, you will find a way. So how to justify the cost? Well it comes out to 4 cents a page. And based on the used book prices, you can resell it later if you care to. The down side? Most of the research that is digested here is 2002 or earlier, but hey, some of the basic physics is over 100 years old, so there is quite a bit of catching up to do. I have not found another intermediate to advanced level book with the understandable detail this one offers. And something that gets you up to speed with state of the art 2002 does provide a good foundation for the field.

Now if I could only find a solar cell manufacturing cookbook... lets see-- 99 parts silicon, two parts boron one part phosphorous, heat the oven to 1150 degrees and stir ever so slowly.. pull the taffy out with a crystal and let it cool for eight hours, slice with diamond dust and sprinkle with silver and tin. Wrap in tedlar,place under glass. Serves millions, should not spoil even in full sun for 25 years...yup it is angel dust.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Essential reference for anyone interested in solar PV, July 3, 2007

By 

Billy Zhang (Shanghai, China) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handbook of Photovoltaic Science and Engineering (Hardcover)

This Handbook is a collection of writings by many authors with expertise and experience in the field of solar photovoltaics. It brings the reader an excellent brief review of the history of PV, exposes the reader to just the right amount of theoretical foundation behind the workings of PV, and doles out to the reader fair amount of practical advice in the makings of PV products that eventually provide clean - and green - electricity to the humankind. It covers different types of photovoltaic products, from crystalline to amorphous based on the Group IV semiconducting elements and their various compound forms. In addition, this Handbook also offers insights into the economics of photovoltaics in an increasingly environment-aware society.

If there is a place where this Handbook could be improved, I think the editor could find more industrial practitioners of photovoltaic products to offer more hands-on advice about how to make a better - more efficient - solar cell.

Overall, this is an excellent handbook and could serve as a good reference to anyone who's interested in solar PV.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, December 13, 2008

By 

Paolo Giai Miniet (Turin, ITALY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Handbook of Photovoltaic Science and Engineering (Hardcover)

In two words: complete, enlightening.

It is not an "how to do do" book, we are dealing with a book of academic level well written and exhaustive.
The firsts two chapter are a good introduction of the subjects while the followings enters in the physics of the photovoltaics cells (theoretical and practicals process aspects). All the state of the art technologies are explained in detail and at the end of each chapter you can find a bibliografy givining you the possibility to reach the source of the infos, if you are willing.
The books end up with three chapters with interesting economical and architecturals aspects.
If you are seriously interested in the study, research of this matters you are not wasting your money and time.