Solar energy is a substantial global industry, one that has generated trade disputes among superpowers, threatened the solvency of large energy companies, and prompted serious reconsideration of electric utility regulation rooted in the 1930s. One of the biggest payoffs from solar’s success is not the clean inexpensive electricity it can produce, but the lessons it provides for innovation in other technologies needed to address climate change. Despite the large literature on solar, including analyses of increasingly detailed datasets, the question as to how solar became inexpensive and why it took so long still remains unanswered. Drawing on developments in the US, Japan, Germany, Australia, and China, this book provides a truly comprehensive and international explanation for how solar has become inexpensive. Understanding the reasons for solar’s success enables us to take full advantage of solar’s potential. It can also teach us how to support other low-carbon technologies with analogous properties, including small modular nuclear reactors and direct air capture. However, the urgency of addressing climate change means that a key challenge in applying the solar model is in finding ways to speed up innovation. Offering suggestions and policy recommendations for accelerated innovation is another key contribution of this book. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of energy technology and innovation, climate change and energy analysis and policy, as well as practitioners and policymakers working in the existing and emerging energy industries.
Solar Energy is an authoritative reference on the design of solar energy systems in building projects, with applications, operating principles, and simple tools for the construction, engineering, and design professional. The book simplifies the solar design and engineering process, providing sample documentation and special tools that provide all the information needed for the complete design of a solar energy system for buildings to enable mainstream MEP and design firms, and not just solar energy specialists, to meet the growing demand for solar energy systems in building projects.
The bestselling alternative energy reference book in North America—now in an updated edition Want to take advantage of solar power in your home? Whether you’re looking to save on your energy costs by adding a few solar components or you want to build a solar-powered house from the ground up, Solar Power For Dummies, 2nd Edition takes the mystery out of this energy source and shows you how to put it to work for you! This new edition gives you hands-on tips and techniques for making your home more energy-efficient though solar power—and helping the planet at the same time. Plus, you’ll get all the latest information on changes to federal, state, and local regulations, laws, and tax incentives that seek to make solar-power adoption more feasible. Expanded coverage of the technology that underpins full-scale solar-power systems for the home New small- and mid-sized solar products, projects, and applications Rik DeGunther is a design engineer who started his own energy consulting firm Featuring ten of the easiest and cheapest DIY solar projects, Solar Power For Dummies, 2nd Edition is the fun and easy way to meet your energy needs with this clean power source!
The Definitive Guide to Large-Scale, Grid-Connected Solar Power System Design and Construction This GreenSource book provides comprehensive engineering design and construction guidelines for large-scale solar power system projects. Proven design methodologies are detailed installation diagrams are included in this practical resource. Large-Scale Solar Power System Design offers complete coverage of solar power system technologies and components, planning, cost estimates, financing, project management, safety, and testing. This authoritative guide fully addresses the complex technical and management issues associated with large-scale, grid-connected solar power system implementations. COVERAGE INCLUDES: Solar power system technologies, including photovoltaic and thin-film solar cells Solar power system physics Photovoltaic power system feasibility study Solar power system costing Solar power system design Large-scale solar power system construction Concentrator photovoltaic systems Solar power system project management Smart-grid systems Solar thermal power Solar power financing and feed-in tariff programs
This book describes recent breakthroughs that promise major cost reductions in solar energy production in a clear and highly accessible manner. The author addresses the three key areas that have commonly resulted in criticism of solar energy in the past: cost, availability, and variability. Coverage includes cutting-edge information on recently developed 40 efficient solar cells, which can produce double the power of currently available commercial cells. The discussion also highlights the potentially transformative emergence of opportunities for integration of solar energy storage and natural gas combined heat and power systems. Solar energy production in the evening hours is also given fresh consideration via the convergence of low cost access to space and the growing number of large terrestrial solar electric power fields around the world. Dr. Fraas has been active in the development of Solar Cells and Solar Electric Power Systems for space and terrestrial applications since 1975. His research team at Boeing demonstrated the first GaAs/GaSb tandem concentrator solar cell in 1989 with a world record energy conversion efficiency of 35, garnering awards from Boeing and NASA. He has over 30 years of experience at Hughes Research Labs, Chevron Research Co, and the Boeing High Technology Center working with advanced semiconductor devices. In a pioneering paper, he proposed the InGaP/GaInAs/Ge triple junction solar cell predicting a cell terrestrial conversion efficiency of 40 at 300 suns concentration. Having become today’s predominant cell for space satellites, that cell is now entering high volume production for terrestrial Concentrated Photovoltaic (CPV) systems. Since joining JX Crystals, Dr. Fraas has pioneered the development of various thermophotovoltaic (TPV) systems based on the new GaSb infrared sensitive PV cell. Dr. Fraas holds degrees from Caltech (B.Sc. Physics), Harvard (M. A. Applied Physics), and USC (Ph.D. EE).
Labor and related costs account for more than half of the price of the average home solar installation. But homeowners can save thousands of dollars with this user-friendly manual, which follows the same process professional contractors use. Through detailed directions and step-by-step photos, veteran solar installer Joseph Burdick and seasoned builder Philip Schmidt teach you how to determine the size, placement, and type of installation you’ll need. This comprehensive DIY guide covers everything from assembling rooftop racking or building a ground-mount structure to setting up the electrical connections and making a battery bank for off-grid systems.
It is rare that a book draws together the knowledge and experience of scientists, each a world leader in his or her discipline, to create a work that presents the state of the art in a field as rich and diverse as solar energy. In Solar Energy - the State of the Art this aim has been achieved. The book comprises twelve individual chapters, each dedicated to one of the major solar energy sub-disciplines and authored by an internationally recognised expert in the field. Areas covered range from solar radiation and meteorology, solar collectors and concentrators, solar energy and the built environment, to solar thermal electricity, photovoltaics, wind energy and the potential cost of ignoring solar energy resources. The papers examine the technology and field in question, discuss the rudiments and major applications, review the current science and technology and explore the remaining challenges for the future. Solar Energy - the State of the Art is an essential reference work for all solar energy practitioners, students, researchers and engineers wishing to gain a broad-based understanding of the theory, technology, applications and issues surrounding the broad, interdisciplinary field of solar energy. The book will form an important component of any library's solar energy holding and will be of particular benefit as an academic reference, as well as being of practical value to professionals who wish to gain a clear understanding of the concepts required to move forward in this field. Published with ISES.
Imagine how often you read books about solar panels and solar power systems and their design and felt disappointed, confused without knowing how to get started and put together the pieces of the puzzle of your much anticipated and long-awaited off-grid or grid-tied solar power system. No more confusion! The book 'Ultimate Solar Power Design Guide - Less Theory, More Practice' is the missing guide for proven simple fast design of solar electricity systems for your home, off-grid house, business, boat, vehicle or other outdoor activities. What is more, this guide is written by experts especially for beginners and professionals alike. Proper sizing of a solar system is very important. The final goal of the design of a photovoltaic system is to come up with a cost-effective, efficient and reliable solar panel system for your home, RV vehicle, boat or business - a solar system that squeezes the maximum possible power for every cent invested. In our opinion, the main drawback of many solar books is that they give too much general information about solar panels and solar components and, if you are lucky enough, just one or two very basic design formulas. Those formulas, however, are far away from a proven yet simple system for sizing a solar system from scratch. Moreover, such sizing information is buried in too much fillers and fluffs you could easily find by just surfing the web. Obviously, such authors limit solar design methods to their own cases only. Ironically the reader's case rarely coincides with the authors' solar case. You feel confused and lost without being aware of how to wire and put all the components of the solar power system together. The mission of this book is to fill this gap by offering a simple practical, fast, step-by-step approach for designing a solar system of any scale, whether simple or complex, intended for your home, business, RV vehicle or boat. The book is written by experts, holding master's degree in electronics, and is intended for those who cannot get started or are utterly confused. Grab the book 'Ultimate Solar Power Design Guide - Less Theory, More Practice' and get your solar powered home, RV vehicle, boat or business today! While reading the book you will discover that our approach to sizing a solar system is just the opposite to the currently prevailing ones. We prefer to give you lots of fast and simple step-by-step universal design methods applicable to all cases, accompanied with many sizing examples - starting from very simple solar power systems and finishing with the design of the more sophisticated off -grid solar power system. Thanks to this approach you will be capable of designing any solar power system or tailor the sizing methods according to your own needs. The book provides 3 general approaches: Business sizing - simple and fast design but not too accurate for every case Basic sizing - not so fast but more accurate, and Advanced sizing - more accurate but not so fast You may choose one of the general approaches, depending on the type of system you are going to use. For example, the fastest business case approach could be used for sizing simple solar systems for outdoor activities. It may be even accurate enough for sizing small solar systems for RV vehicles and boats. The basic and the more accurate advanced approach are best suited for designing off-grid and grid-tied solar electric systems. Grab the book 'Ultimate Solar Power Design Guide - Less Theory, More Practice' Now!
An introduction to the fundamental science and engineering of solar energy technologies. Gives a concise and detailed review of solar energy and its interaction with materials, and discusses photovoltaic devices and solar thermal technologies like the solar chimney, solar (power) tower, flat plate water heater, and electricity generation.
From New York Times bestselling author and economics columnist Robert Frank, bold new ideas for creating environments that promise a brighter future Psychologists have long understood that social environments profoundly shape our behavior, sometimes for the better, often for the worse. But social influence is a two-way street—our environments are themselves products of our behavior. Under the Influence explains how to unlock the latent power of social context. It reveals how our environments encourage smoking, bullying, tax cheating, sexual predation, problem drinking, and wasteful energy use. We are building bigger houses, driving heavier cars, and engaging in a host of other activities that threaten the planet—mainly because that's what friends and neighbors do. In the wake of the hottest years on record, only robust measures to curb greenhouse gases promise relief from more frequent and intense storms, droughts, flooding, wildfires, and famines. Robert Frank describes how the strongest predictor of our willingness to support climate-friendly policies, install solar panels, or buy an electric car is the number of people we know who have already done so. In the face of stakes that could not be higher, the book explains how we could redirect trillions of dollars annually in support of carbon-free energy sources, all without requiring painful sacrifices from anyone. Most of us would agree that we need to take responsibility for our own choices, but with more supportive social environments, each of us is more likely to make choices that benefit everyone. Under the Influence shows how.
