Handbook of Research on Solar Energy Systems and Technologies

Handbook of Research on Solar Energy Systems and Technologies

Sohail Anwar, Harry Efstathiadis, Salahuddin Qazi

Copyright: © 2013 |Pages: 614

ISBN13: 9781466619968|ISBN10: 1466619961|EISBN13: 9781466619975

DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-1996-8

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MLA

Anwar, Sohail, et al., editors. Handbook of Research on Solar Energy Systems and Technologies. IGI Global, 2013. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-4666-1996-8

APA

Anwar, S., Efstathiadis, H., & Qazi, S. (Eds.). (2013). Handbook of Research on Solar Energy Systems and Technologies. IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-4666-1996-8

Chicago

Anwar, Sohail, Harry Efstathiadis, and Salahuddin Qazi, eds. Handbook of Research on Solar Energy Systems and Technologies. Hershey, PA: IGI Global, 2013. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-4666-1996-8

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The last ten years have seen rapid advances in nanoscience and nanotechnology, allowing unprecedented manipulation of nanoscale structures controlling solar capture, conversion, and storage.

Filled with cutting-edge solar energy research and reference materials, the Handbook of Research on Solar Energy Systems and Technologies serves as a one-stop resource for the latest information regarding different topical areas within solar energy. This handbook will emphasize the application of nanotechnology innovations to solar energy technologies, explore current and future developments in third generation solar cells, and provide a detailed economic analysis of solar energy applications.

Table of Contents

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Front Materials

Title Page

Copyright Page

Editorial Advisory Board

Preface

Chapters

Chapter 1

Control and Conversion of Solar Power (pages 1-18)

Liping Guo

Solar energy conversion is one of the most addressed topics in the field of renewable energy. Solar radiation is usually converted into two forms of energy: thermal and electrical energy. Solar electricity has applications in many...

Chapter 2

Solar Energy Storage: An Approach for Terrestrial and Space Applications (pages 19-47)

Ahmed Elgafy

With the urgent need to harvest and store solar energy, especially with the dramatic unexpected changes in oil prices, the design of new generation of solar energy storage systems has grown in importance. Besides diminishing the role...

Chapter 3

Solar Photovoltaic Servo Tracking Controlled System (pages 48-67)

Murad Shibli

Renewable energy has known a great interest during the last two decades. Solar energy is viewed as the cleanest renewable source of energy for the future since it is the least polluting and the most inexhaustible of all known energy...

Chapter 4

Power Electronics and Controls in Solar Photovoltaic Systems (pages 68-125)

Radian Belu

The use of renewable energy sources is increasingly being pursued as a supplemental and an alternative to traditional energy generation. Several distributed energy systems are expected to a have a significant impact on the energy...

Chapter 5

Photovoltaic Devices (pages 126-162)

Ashraf Uddin

Photovoltaics (PV) have been the world’s most rapidly growing energy source, with markets increasing at a compounded rate over the years. The electricity generating capacity of new photovoltaic product manufactured in 2006 exceeded...

Chapter 6

Nanotechnology for Photovoltaic Energy: Challenges and Potentials (pages 163-191)

Salahuddin Qazi, Farhan A. Qazi

Solar radiation is plentiful and a clean source of power. However, despite the first practical use of silicon based solar cell more than 50 years ago, it has not been exploited to its full potential due to the high cost of electrical...

Chapter 7

CuInGaSe Based Thin Films for Photovoltaic Solar Cells (pages 192-209)

Harry Efstathiadis, Adam Filios

This chapter mainly focuses on two promising technologies, Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS) and nanocrystalline silicon solar cells. Heterojunctions based on CIGS have been studied for several years, and have shown very stable...

Chapter 8

Nanoparticle Scattering, Absorption, and Interface Effects for Surface Plasmon Enhanced Thin Silicon Solar Cells: Theory, Past Findings, and Future Directions (pages 210-230)

Nirag Kadakia

Recently, surface plasmons have been employed in a variety of methods to increase the efficiency of solar cells. Surface plasmons are oscillations of electrons that arise from surface effects of light interaction with materials that...

Chapter 9

Nanotechnology and Polymer Solar Cells (pages 231-253)

Gavin Buxton

In response to environmental concerns there is a drive towards developing renewable, and cleaner, energy technologies. Solar cells, which harvest energy directly from sunlight, may satisfy future energy requirements, but photovoltaic...

Chapter 10

Low-Cost III-V Compound Semiconductor Solar Cells: Progress and Prospects (pages 254-293)

Michael G. Mauk

The prospects for cost-effective flat plate (non-concentrator) solar cells based on III-V compound semiconductors (e.g., GaAs, InP, AlAs, and their alloys) are reviewed. Solar cells made in III-V materials are expensive, but...

Chapter 11

Materials Characterization Techniques for Solar Cell Devices: Imaging, Compositional and Structural Analysis (pages 294-307)

Michael S. Hatzistergos

Characterization of an issue provides the required information to determine the root cause of a problem and direct the researcher towards the appropriate solution. Through the explosion of nanotechnology in the past few years, the...

Chapter 12

Mechatronics Technology for Solar Cells (pages 308-319)

H. Henry Zhang, Danny Rodriguez, Qiong Li

A mechatronic real-time solar tracker is developed with National Instruments Compact Rio programming module, photoresistors sensor, stepper motors, and a set of nickel metal hydride (NiMH) cells. The tracking array is able to pivot...

Chapter 13

Computer Simulations of Solar Energy Systems (pages 320-337)

Akram Gasmelseed

In recent years, computer simulation has become a standard tool for analyzing solar energy systems. The interaction of light with nanoscale matter can provide greater functionality for photonic devices and render unique information...

Chapter 14

Image Processing for Solar Cell Analysis, Diagnostics and Quality Assurance Inspection (pages 338-375)

Michael G. Mauk

Image capturing, processing, and analysis have numerous uses in solar cell research, device and process development and characterization, process control, and quality assurance and inspection. Solar cell image processing is expanding...

Chapter 15

Artificial Intelligence Techniques for Solar Energy and Photovoltaic Applications (pages 376-436)

Radian Belu

Artificial intelligence (AI) techniques play an important role in modeling, analysis, and prediction of the performance and control of renewable energy. The algorithms employed to model, control, or to predict performances of the...

Chapter 16

Methods of Forecasting Solar Radiation (pages 437-461)

Rubita Sudirman, Muhammad Noorul Anam Mohd Norddin

Extreme demands on the methods used for forecasting solar radiation has been the driving force behind the efforts to find the best method available. An extensive study of different techniques available was conducted. Methods studied...

Chapter 17

Greenhouse Solar Thermal Application (pages 462-479)

Tribeni Das, Ganesh C Bora

This chapter includes brief description of different solar thermal applications of greenhouse structure based on the different research work done in this area. It provides the basic knowledge of the use of solar energy to increase...

Chapter 18

Technology Selection for Solar Power Generation in the Middle East: Case of Saudi Arabia (pages 480-505)

Tugrul Daim, Paul R. Newman, Hithem Sughi, Eyad Bakhsh

Saudi Arabia is moving towards economical and technological development and to be an active player in the dynamics of the international community. The economic growth in the country requires significant additional electrical power...

Chapter 19

Solar Energy Education and Training Programs in the USA: An Academic Perspective (pages 506-516)

Sohail Anwar, Shamsa S. Anwar

In the past, solar energy education was limited to scientists and engineers who could develop new technologies and conduct research. Later on, a need was recognized to educate those who design and construct buildings, because solar...

Chapter 20

Project-Based International Collaboration in Solar Energy Education: A Case Study from France (pages 517-522)

Sohail Anwar, Patrick Favier, Desire D. Rasolomampionona

This chapter describes a project-based international collaboration in renewable energy systems design and implementation. The collaboration involves several educational institutions in Europe and USA. Working in teams, the...

Back Materials

Compilation of References

About the Contributors

Index

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