Photovoltaics Fundamentals, Technology and Practice

Concise introduction to the basic principles of solar energy, photovoltaic (PV) systems, PV cells, PV measurement techniques, and grid connected systems, overviewing the potential of PV electricity for students and engineers new to the topic 

Starting with the basic principles of solar energy, this practical text explains the fundamentals of semiconductor physics and the structure and functioning of the solar cell. It describes current measurement techniques for solar modules, and the planning and operation of grid-connected and off-grid PV systems. 

Key features: 

• clarifies the technical and economic perspectives of PV energy generation, whilst providing an overview on the current economic status
• discusses the future development of PV, including efficient promotion instruments and price development
• each chapter contains various exercises and descriptive examples, with operation results from concrete PV plants
• an accompanying website hosting exercise solutions, links to further PV references, and free downloads of the figures and additional software www.textbook-pv.org

This is an essential text for renewable energy students, technicians and engineers wanting to know how solar cells work and how to design a complete PV plant. It is also a useful resource for PV installers, planners, operators, consultants, financers, potential energy investors and politicians.

Professor Konrad Mertens, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Münster University of Applied Sciences, Germany
Konrad Mertens was appointed Professor at Muenster University of Applied Sciences in 2000. He covers the subjects of photovoltaics, sensor technology and optoelectronics. He is founder and head of the photovoltaic test lab and head of the lab of sensor technology and optoelectronics at his university. Previous to this, he worked in industry as project engineer and project manager in the fields of photovoltaivs and intelligent networks. Professor Mertens is author of the German text Photovoltaik - Grundlagen, Technologie und Praxis, and is court-appointed expert for photovoltaic plants.

1 Preface 17

1.1 Introduction 17

1.2 What is energy? 19

1.3 Problems of today’s energy supply 23

1.4 Renewable energies 27

1.5 Photovoltaic – the most important in brief 29

1.6 History of photovoltaic 32

2 Irradiation availability of the sun 37

2.1 Properties of solar irradiation 37

2.2 Global irradiation 40

2.3 Calculation of the position of the sun 44

2.4 Irradiation on suitable surfaces 48

2.5 Irradiation availability and world energy consumption 55

3 Fundamentals of semiconductor physics 58

3.1 Structure of semiconductors 58

3.2 Band model of the semiconductor 62

3.3 Charge transport in semiconductors 65
 
3.4 Doping of semiconductors 68

3.5 The p-n junction 69

3.6 Interaction of light and semiconductors 75

4 Structure and method of operation of solar cells 82

4.1 Consideration of the photodiode 82

4.2 Method of function of the solar cell 84

4.3 Photo step 89

4.4 Characteristic curve and characteristic dimensions 92

4.5 Electrical description of real solar cells

4.6 Electrical description of real solar cells

4.7 High efficiency cells 110

5 Cell technologies 113

5.1 Production of crystalline cells 113

5.2 Cells of amorphous silicon 122

5.3 Further thin-layer cells 131

5.4 Hybrid wafer cells 133

5.5 Other cell concepts 135

5.6 Concentrator systems 136

5.7 Ecological questions on cell and module production 139

5.8 Summary 145

6 Solar modules and solar generators 147

6.1 Properties of solar modules 1448

6.2 Connecting solar modules 161

6.3 Direct current components 163

6.4 Types of installations 166

7 Photovoltaic system technology 174

7.1 Solar generator and load 174

7.2 Grid-connected systems 181

7.3 Stand-alone systems 199

8 Photovoltaic metrology 215

8.1 Measuring solar irradiation 215

8.2 measuring the power of solar modules 219

8.3 Peak power measurement at site 222

8.4 Thermographic measuring technology 224

8.5 Electroluminance measuring technology 228

9  Planning and operation of grid-connected plants 231

9.1 Planning and dimensioning 231

9.2 Economics of photovoltaic installations 238

9.3 Surveillance, monitoring and vizualising 243

9.4 Operating results of Actual installations 247

10 Outlook 251

10.1 Potential of photovoltaic 251

10.2 Efficient promotion instruments 255

10.3 Price development 256

10.4 Thoughts on future energy supply 258

11 Exercises 264

12 Appendix 274

Index 287

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