Solar Electricity: A Practical Guide to Designing and Installing Small Photovoltaic Systems

Deals with photovoltaics, an increasingly important renewable energy source. Demonstrates how to determine the supply of solar energy for a given location. Explains how solar cells work and how they are manufactured along with a detailed description of crystalline silicon and thin films. Discusses the photovoltaic power system including sizing and design. Reviews solar electricity applications along with the economics of PV installations. Considers environmental and social impacts of energy production. Features a treatment of major specialized topics such as large photovoltaic systems, photovoltaics under concentrated sunlight and hydrogen economy.