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The presence of harmonic currents as a result of switching action of inverters, intermittent sunlight, and resonances triggered by the connection of the solar photovoltaic plant to the electrical network has spread the realization of the prospective rapid depletion of a transformer's intended service lifetime owing to increased service losses and temperature rise in the active components. On the grounds of the supposed prospect of reduced transformer service lifetime under harmonic conditions, there is a growing interest by manufacturers to explore transformer design procedures that enable transformers to operate reliably under harmonic conditions. This book examines such procedures, highlighting the challenges involved in optimizing transformer performance.

An essential guide through the rapid evolution of PV technology Photovoltaics from Milliwatts to Gigawatts: Understanding Market and Technology Drivers toward Terawatts covers the history of silicon based PV, from the earliest discoveries to present and future practice. Divided into 9 chapters, the book includes the following topics: Early History; The 1973 Oil crisis and the drive for alternative energies; The emergence in the 1980's of the off grid PV market, the significant small scale PV consumer market and the establishment of a manufacturing industry; Advantages of silicon for solar cells; The evolution of PV installations; The history of the incentive programme for PV; Difficulties of alternative technologies in challenging silicon dominance; Current status of the silicon manufacturing technology and The future. Key features: An authoritative first-hand account of an emerging technology from laboratory to global significance for electricity generation by an industry expert. Provides a framework for policy makers on future trends in the PV industry. Examines the lessons learnt from the interaction of research laboratories, major industry and government. Signposts the route to future high efficiency silicon solar cells giving new researchers a background for further development. Highlights the critical success factors for the emerging alternative manufacturing technologies. An essential PV guide aimed at researchers and students in electrical engineering and physical sciences through the rapid evolution of PV technology to commercial viability and the challenges ahead for increased performance, efficiency and global deployment.

This book takes a close look at the solar technologies of today and tomorrow, describes their properties, and evaluates the technological potential of each type. The book will also examine the logistics of deploying solar energy as a viable and sustainable way to solve urgent energy, environmental, and socio-economic problems. Among the many topics discussed include solar power generation, today's solar technologies, solar thermal, silicon PV, thin PV, 3-D solar cells, nano-PV, organic solar cells, solar successes and failures, solar power fields, finance and regulations, solar markets and solar energy and the environment. This book serves as both a guidebook for beginners as well as an outline for the debates on solar power technologies, their issues and their proper use by specialists.

This reference guide provides a detailed perspective on the investing opportunities in solar power technologies and services, as well as an indication of the direction of trends in the sector. Significant attention is also given to the companies operating within the sector.

An international workshop entitled: Modern Solar Facilities Advanced Solar Science was held in Gõttingen from September 27 until September 29, 2006. The workshop, which was attended by 88 participants from 24 different countries, gave a broad overview of the current state of solar research, with emphasis on modern telescopes and techniques, advanced observational methods and results, and on modern theoretical methods of modelling, computation, and data reduction in solar physics. This book collects written versions of contributions that were presented at the workshop as invited or contributed talks, and as poster contributions.

An innovative analysis that shows how the shift to solar energy—in particular, the use of photovoltaic cells—is both economically advantageous and inevitable, and will rival the information and communication technologies revolution in its transformative effects.In Solar Revolution, fund manager and former corporate buyout specialist Travis Bradford argues—on the basis of standard business and economic forecasting models—that over the next two decades solar energy will increasingly become the best and cheapest choice for most electricity and energy applications. Solar Revolution outlines the path by which the transition to solar technology and sustainable energy practices will occur.Developments in the photovoltaic (PV) industry over the last ten years have made direct electricity generation from PV cells a cost-effective and feasible energy solution, despite the common view that PV technology appeals only to a premium niche market. Bradford shows that PV electricity today has become the choice of hundreds of thousands of mainstream homeowners and businesses in many markets worldwide, including Japan, Germany, and the American Southwest. Solar energy will eventually be the cheapest source of energy in nearly all markets and locations because PV can bypass the aging and fragile electricity grid and deliver its power directly to the end user, fundamentally changing the underlying economics of energy. As the scale of PV production increases and costs continue to decline at historic rates, demand for PV electricity will outpace supply of systems for years to come. Ultimately, the shift from fossil fuels to solar energy will take place not because solar energy is better for the environment or energy security, or because of future government subsidies or as yet undeveloped technology. The solar revolution is already occurring through decisions made by self-interested energy users. The shift to solar energy is inevitable and will be as transformative as the last century's revolutions in information and communication technologies.